Oxford City are to appeal against the red card shown to goalkeeper Salva de la Cruz during their 3-0 defeat to Barrow last month, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

Salva was dismissed after just six minutes of the Vanarama Conference North game for a foul on Karl Ledsham, and is due to be suspended for City’s trip to local rivals Brackley Town on Saturday.

Although City’s other goalkeeper, Mark Scott, has been out with a back injury, general manager Justin Merritt said he was not overly concerned.

“We’re hoping Mark Scott will be able to train on Thursday and we’ll be able to get him available for Saturday,” he said.

“We plan to appeal Salva’s suspension, which might delay that as well.”

The City keeper was sent off for a second time against Tamworth on Saturday.

But, with City holding on for a confidence-boosting 1-0 win, Merritt is feeling positive about his side’s prospects as they host North Ferriby United tonight.

“It was a relief for the players and a reward for all their hard work,” he said.

“I think the performances have not been too bad, but it’s just key moments that have gone against us.”

Defender Alejandro-Adrian Santiago returns from a two-match ban, but captain Darren Pond is likely to miss out after sustaining a knee injury on Saturday.

Old Woodstock Town manager Ben Sadler is optimistic about his side’s chances of causing an upset in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup quarter-final against North Leigh at Eynsham Park.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” he said.

“We’ve only lost once in our last nine games.

“If we play to our capability we’ve got a great chance.”

Jamie Cook will miss out for North Leigh following a back spasm.

TONIGHT’S SQUADS

Oxford City (v North Ferriby Utd, home): from Salva, Scott, Del Alamo, Coulson, Lapoujade, Henderson, Stonehouse, Santiago, Rodriguez, Winters, Barcelos, Wilson, Benjamin, Murombedzi, Pearson, Jackson, Fofana.

North Leigh (v Old Woodstock Tn, home): from Bulman, Hopkins, Turk, Gunn, Caton, Ingram, McNish, Sanders, Williams, Lewis, Bowles, Westlake, Osborne-Ricketts, Hole, Woodley.

Old Woodstock Tn (v North Leigh, away): from White, Howe, Calley, Wood, Kennedy, Keylock, Sadler, Albin, Nicholls, J Dunmall, Bone, Gilkes, M Dunmall, Roberts, Langford.