Oxford City boss Mike Ford won’t allow his side to be distracted by events elsewhere as they host promotion-chasing Hednesford Town in Skrill North tomorrow afternoon, writes Matthew Bruce.

City’s survival could be secured if they win and both Histon and Stalybridge fail to collect three points, but Ford wants his side to focus on the task at hand.

He said: “There’s only one result that we can take care of and that’s our own – and if we play like we did on Tuesday and as we have in five of our last six games I think we will.

“Lots of things on Saturday can affect our future in the Conference North, but we just have to worry about our own result and let the rest deal with itself.”

City’s 2-1 defeat at home to third-placed Altrincham on Tuesday night followed a 6-0 hammering at Gainsborough last weekend.

But despite a second successive defeat, Ford felt that last Saturday’s blip has been put behind them.

“The character of the team on Tuesday to bounce back from a 6-0 defeat was fantastic,” he added.

“We spoke a little bit in the dressing room about what happened at Gainsborough, but in football you move on quickly.

“We never deserved to lose on Tuesday, but I was very pleased with the performance.”

Veteran forward Jamie Cook returns after injury, while Declan Benjamin and Adam Learoyd, who were both rested for Tuesday’s clash with Altrincham, are also available.

Oxford City (v Hednesford Tn, home): from Scott, Bulman, Benjamin, Stonehouse, Pook, Learoyd, Preece, McEachran, Mullings, Symons, Pond, Winters, Solomon-Otabor, Basham, Cook, Ballard, O’Hanlon, Jackson.

BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL

OXFORD CITY

Sat, April 19: Hednesford Tn (H). Mon, April 21: Brackley Tn (a). Sat, April 26: Bradford PA (H).

HISTON

Sat, April 19: Solihull Moors (H). Mon, April 21: Gainsborough (a). Sat, April 26: Altrincham (H).

STALYBRIDGE

Sat, April 19: Gainsborough (H). Mon, April 21: Bradford PA (a). Sat, April 26: Workington (H).