Oxford City manager Mike Ford has expressed his relief after his side broke their Premier Division duck, with a 1-0 win at Cirencester.

Last season, City went 13 games without a win, but the victory at Cirencester, courtesy of a spectacular strike from Felipe Barcelos, got their season up and running.

“I don’t think many people realised how important it was to get that monkey off our back quickly,” said Ford, whose side host Bashley tonight.

“Some of the players here were part of that team from last season and that result has settled us all down.

“The lads’ attitude to keeping a clean sheet on Saturday was immense. After the 6-0 defeat (at AFC Totton) they had to go out and deliver and the players deserve all the credit.”

Ford said Barcelos’s goal, a free-kick ten yards inside City’s half had arrived at just the right time.

He added: “It was very good delivery into a great area which went straight into the top corner. It was very welcome as we were dominating the game.”

Meanwhile, Ford has warned against a Bashley backlash after their 3-0 defeat by Banbury United.

He added: “Knowing their manager, their players will be right up for it.”

City are without Reece Fleet (unavailable), so Andy Ballard returns to the squad.

Banbury United boss Ady Fuller is looking for his side to put on a repeat show when they host Redditch after getting their first win, at Bashley.

Fuller said: “Redditch are a big strong side, but if we play our football as we can, at the same pace and tempo we will be alright.

“Bashley were physical and we matched them, so if we do the same against Redditch we can get a decent result.”

Tommy Kinch is back, though Glenn Walker (unav-ailable) is out. Ben Polk (hamstring) faces a test.

North Leigh will be hoping they don’t have to face a keeper of Stourport Swifts’ Haydn Whitcombe’s quality when they entertain Sholing in Division 1 South & West.

On Saturday, Whitcombe made a string of saves as North Leigh battled back to draw 2-2.

Gee said: “He made four or five saves of the quality you don’t see at this level.”

Andy Caton and Mark Flanagan return to the squad.

Oxford C (v Bashley, home): from Mooney, Clarke, Martin, Ballard, Green, Blossom, Barcelos, Benjamin, Lyon, Steele, Stanley, Basham, Deabill, Ashton, Learoyd.

Banbury Utd (v Redditch, home): from Kemp, Stanbridge, Polk, Thackeray, Dolman, Hutchcox, Youngs, Dowling, Coleman, Green, Woodley, Kinch, Travers, Dowling, Will-iams, Fuller.

North Leigh (v Sholing, home): from Warrell, Bowles, Organ, Hole, Franklin, Clark, Sanders, Burnell, Mills, McCabe, Hop-kins, Roberts, Willoughby, Merriman, Sadler, Caton, Flanagan.

l Abingdon Town will host Didcot Town at Culham Road in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup on September 3.

FULL DRAW Abingdon Tn v Didcot Tn, Wantage v Abingdon Utd, Newport Pagnell v Thame Utd, Wembley v Ardley Utd, Aylesbury Utd v North Leigh, Wokingham & Emmbrook v Kidlington. Ties to be played Sept 3.