OXFORD City could consider pulling out of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup in future years after midfielder Justin Lee was badly injured in this week's tie against Worcester College Old Boys.

The 26-year-old was stretchered off and taken by ambulance for X-rays at the John Radcliffe Hospital after being clattered in a late challenge during City's 4-1 win on Tuesday.

It was the same leg into which Lee had a bolt, a plate and six screws inserted after suffering a double fracture against Bognor Regis 18 months ago.Although X-rays showed there was no break this time, one of the screws may have moved and now the influential midfielder must wait for the swelling to go down before hearing what treatment he will receive.

With the officials not seeing the challenge, the Worcester College player escaped punishment.

However, video evidence - the match was recorded by the Oxford Channel - could be used for the first time in the county to punish a player after the event. City manager Paul Lee said: "We are very disappointed with the challenge."

Now Lee faces several weeks on the sidelines and joins skipper Matt Hayward and striker Jason Davy on the injury list for tomorrow's trip to Bishop's Stortford in Ryman League Division 1.

But defenders Garry Smart and Richard Peirson and strikers Stewart McCleary and Dwaine Strong return.

Oxford City: from Foster, Smart, Peirson, Thorp, Dark, Wimble, Smith, Sweeney, Strong, McCleary, Wise, Whitehead, Hulbert, Potter, Rose. Joint manager Andy Sinnott has set his Thame United troops a target of ten wins from their last 16 games to clinch promotion to the Ryman League Premier Division for the first time.

But Sinnott is taking nothing for granted, even though Thame face bottom club Chertsey Town at Windmill Stadium tomorrow. He said: "It is a potential banana skin.

"It is a game everyone thinks we should win. If we maintain the form we have been in and apply ourselves we should not have a problem."

Striker Ronnie Joe returns from suspension and fellow forward John Mitchell is expected to have recovered from a groin strain, giving Thame plenty of options in attack.

Thame Utd: from Moores, Perna, G Williams, Brown, A Williams, Saulsbury, Avery, Tregurtha, Paul, Fontaine, West, Louis, Sherwood, Jones, Joe, Mitchell, Emsden, Shepherd, Holmes. Abingdon Town manager Bob Rayner has praised his assistant Roger Charles - the player whose goals are giving his side the chance of beating the drop from Ryman Division 3.

Charles hit a hat-trick as Town stormed back to snatch a 3-2 win at bottom club Southall last week and Rayner said: "Roger is a tremendous player.

"I am so fortunate to have him there. I rate him highly.

He is not a young player any more, but he is still one of the fittest in the team and one of the quickest."

Scott Hannah and Paddy Campbell return to the squad after injury as Town seek to continue their revival against Tilbury at Culham Road.

Tristan Didcock misses the game as he is getting married.

Abingdon Tn: McLaughlin, Brown, Burden, Connell, Woodley, Sutherland, O'Donoghue, Charles, Wyatt, Herbert, Clark, Hannah, Campbell, Ciezak. Witney Town have been hit by a spate of injuries as they prepare for the trip to lowly Sittingbourne in the Dr Martens League Eastern Division.

Defender Gary Murphy (knee ligaments) and striker Richard Bourne (ankle ligaments) are both definitely out, while Carl Henry (thigh), Justin Merritt (shoulder), Darren Teggart (back) and Geoff Neville (calf) face fitness tests.

Town have received a seven-day approach from Barnstaple Town for Chris Osmond.

Witney Tn: Alder, Redknap, Organ, Muttock, Tavinor, Abercrombie, Osmond, Caffel, Merritt, Henry, Waters, Neville, Teggart, Swann, Paterson, Morgan.

Story date: Friday 04 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.