MARK Jones has challenged his Oxford City players to repeat their performance level from the weekend as they go in search of a first win of the season tonight.

While City were edged out 3-2 at Vanarama National League South leaders Woking, their manager saw plenty of reasons for encouragement.

The fixture list gets no easier, with Torquay United visiting Court Place Farm this evening.

But Jones believes his side are well capable of upsetting the Gulls, if they can keep standards high.

He said: “I thought Saturday was our best performance of the season, we had much more control of the game.

“Sometimes you do need a bounce of the ball to go for you.

“One win would settle everyone down and give us a lift, but we can take confidence from the way we played.

“The challenge to the players is replicating what we did on Saturday.

“I think looking at the size of club and their resources, you would expect Torquay to be up there, but we always back ourselves.

“We will certainly have to be at our best, but I’m pleased we have a game – I didn’t want to wait a whole week to play after the disappointment on Saturday.”

Ben Jefford and Luke Ruddick were sent off at Woking but are available, with their suspensions not kicking in until Saturday.

TONIGHT’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Torquay Utd, home): from King, Jones, Godwin-Malife, Sinclair, Ruddick, Oastler, Ashby, Fleet, Paterson, Ibrahim, McEachran, Wiltshire, Jefford, Tshimanga, Fasanmade, Krasniqi.

  • BANBURY United host Halesowen Town tonight in their first home Evo-Stik South League Premier Central fixture.