OXFORD City boss Mike Ford says winning the Oxfordshire Senior Cup would be a fitting finale to an outstanding season.

Ford’s side take on Oxford United, his former club, at the Kassam Stadium tonight (7.45), relishing the role of underdogs.

City ended their first campaign in the Blue Square Bet North a highly-creditable tenth, and their manager feels his side have not been given the credit they deserve.

“At the start of the season, we didn’t know whether the players would be good enough or what the standard was like,” he said.

“But the players that stayed at the club showed that they can compete at that level. We only lost one game in April.

“If you put into context the expectation at the start of the season, we have massively over-achieved.

“I don’t think the players have been given the credit they deserve, so to win it would finish the season off nicely.”

As well as Ford, who captained United to promotion in 1996, Steve Basham, Jamie Cook, Chris Willmott, Andy Gunn and Declan Benjamin all had spells with the U’s, adding extra spice to the fixture.

“If I was playing for Oxford United, I would not want to lose to non-league footballers and would want to show the difference between professionals and part-time players,” Ford said.

“From our point of view, we can show people that we aren’t a bad side. We’ll have a right go and try to win it.”

The City boss, who used to play in the same United side as U’s assistant manager Mickey Lewis and coach Andy Melville, said he was relishing pitting his wits against his old pals.

He added: “I know them really well.

“I must have played hundreds of games with Mickey and Andy, and I’ve got to know Chris (Wilder) during his time at the club.

“It’s nothing to do with me, but they have made the right decision to keep those three. They only just missed out on the play-offs.”

City welcome back skipper Andy Ballard from suspension, but are without Juan Martin Leiva and Louis Joyce, who are cup-tied.

Oxford City: from Townsend, Benjamin, Stonehouse, Malone, Ballard, Gunn, Willmott, Bell, Pond, Barcelos, Cook, Stanley, McNish, Basham, Learoyd.