Former Hawks loanees aiming to follow up FA giant-killing with National League South win at Westleigh Park

Oxford City hit the national headlines on Monday when they humiliated three divisions higher Northampton Town 2-1 in a first round tie shown live on BT Sport.

That meant Oxford and Hawks are the only two clubs in their division still in the world’s greatest sporting club knockout competition.

Up front for Oxford was Harvey Bradbury, the 21-year-old son of former Pompey striker and Hawks boss Lee.

And in goal was Ben Dudzinski, who appeared 29 times for Hawks under Lee Bradbury in Hawks’ debut National League campaign in 2018/19.

Harvey Bradbury was part of the Pompey Academy and scored the Blues’ goal in their 2-1 FA Youth Cup loss to Manchester City in front of around 1,700 at Fratton Park in December 2015.

Among his colleagues that night was good friend Theo Widdrington, who could be in the Hawks squad this weekend, Tommy Scutt - now at Baffins Milton Rovers - and Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, now at Gosport Borough.

Released by Pompey without making a first team appearance, Bradbury made his EFL debut for Oxford United as a sub in November 2018.

He also had three League 2 outings as a sub for Morecambe last season while on loan from Millwall under-23s.

While at Fratton Park, Bradbury spent a loan period at Hawks while he also played against his dad’s team for St Albans in April 2018 - a game Hawks won 2-1 with goals from Wes Fogden and Jason Prior.

Bradbury joined City in the summer after being released by Millwall.

Oxford boss David Oldfield also recruited Dudzinski, who was briefly on loan at Gosport last season from Sutton United.

Oxford needed a new No 1 as Craig King had left to sign for current NL South table-toppers Dartford.

Bradbury isn’t the only ex-Pompey academy player likely to be in the Oxford starting XI this weekend.

Centre half Joe Oastler is now in his fourth season at City after appearing for Gosport in 2016/17.

The 30-year-old adds much-needed experience to what was a youthful back four against Northampton.

His central defensive partner was Luis Ferndandez, 19, on loan from Stevenage, while right-back Aaron Drewe, also 19, is on loan from Queens Park Rangers.

Left-back Louis Hall, signed from Southern Leaguers Bedford in the summer, is only 21.

Bradbury was part of a front three against Northampton, alongside James Roberts and Zac McEachran.

Roberts, like Bradbury, has played in the EFL for Oxford United and last season was playing in National League North for Spennymoor.

Roberts is currently his side’s top scorer, netting his seventh of the season in the cup win over Northampton.

He had previously scored twice in a 6-1 FA Cup win over Tamworth - Bradbury also notched a brace in that tie - and was also on target in an impressive 3-2 fourth qualifying round win at higher tier Weymouth.

Roberts also scored twice in a 4-0 NL South home win over Tonbridge.

Another forward option is ex-Torquay and Southend striker Elliot Benyon, who came on for Bradbury against Northampton and won the penalty from which Josh Ashby converted the second half winner.

A third loanee defender, Bristol Rovers’ 19-year-old Pablo Martinez, also came on against the Cobblers, as did ex-Basingstoke Town winger Nana Owusu.