Zac McEachran could play an important role for Oxford City in the later stages of this season, according to manager Mike Ford, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

The 19-year-old, one of five changes to the team which lost 1-0 at Workington last week, scored in City’s 2-2 home draw with Leamington on Saturday, and is likely to feature prominently in the club's busy run-in.

“I work with Zac every day of the week and he’s an outstanding talent,” said Ford.

“His goal was clinical and in the first half they couldn’t get the ball off him.

“He tired towards the end and that’s why I took him off, but if we can get Zac playing like that for 90 minutes we have got a talent on our hands.”

Ford felt that his side could have won the game, but was happy to accept a point after having to play full-back Declan Benjamin in goal for the final ten minutes.

He added: “I’ve played in goal myself in a league game and every time the ball goes in the box everyone covers their eyes with their hands.

“I think in the end, bearing in mind we’d lost our keeper and twice come back from behind, we would have probably taken what we had.”

  • courtesy of OxBox TV