Abingdon United have boosted their outside play-off hopes by signing former Banbury United and Oxford City winger Jon Gardner.

And he could make his first start when they travel to Uxbridge in Division 1 South & West on Saturday after coming on in their 1-1 midweek draw with Bishops Cleeve.

Assistant manager Darren Edwards said: “He’s in the squad for Saturday and is definitely in contention for a place (in the starting line-up).

“He played a few games for Thame to get his fitness up and got 25 minutes on Tuesday.

“He’s got a bit of class about him and will give us a spark. He give us another option.”

Billy Beechers is hoping to have recovered from the flu.

North Leigh boss Mark Gee is expecting the sternest test of their ten-match unbeaten run in Division 1 South & West when they travel to fourth-placed Paulton Rovers.

Gee whose side are at full strength said: “Going to Bridgwater was tough, but this will our hardest game yet.”

Oxford City manager Mike Ford wants more of the same when they travel to his old side Bedford Town in the Premier Division tomorrow.

On Tuesday, City won for the first time in seven games with a 3-0 success against Evesham.

“It was a good win and we played well,” said Ford, who will be without Mark Bell (hamstring) while Dave Savage (thigh), James Clarke and Mark Janes face late tests.

“We took our chances and kept a clean sheet which was a bonus.”

“We changed it and moved Jon Douglas (striker), to centre back which worked well.”

Ford added: “Bedford will be tough and we have to match them in terms of hard work and team spirit.”

Banbury United will be without Declan Benjamin (hamstring) when they travel to Halesowen aiming for back-to-back wins after Tuesday’s win against Didcot Town.

Ben Milner and Jack Ashton face tests on ankle injuries.

“We have been a low on confidence and hopefully the Didcot win will give us the boost we need,” said boss Billy Jeffrey said: Didcot Town have re-signed youngster Niall Hodgkins on a month’s loan from Oxford United to pep-up their attack and he goes into the squad for the visit of Bashley.

Town manager Stuart Peace said: “We are creating three or four chances, but not taking them and it’s costing us.

“We have to be more clinical in front of goal.”

Saturday's squads Oxford C (v Bedford, away): from North, Holt, Ballard, Mead, Gunn, Perpetuini, Davis, Bell, Lyon, Savage, Rowe, Harding, Steele, Douglas, Brooks, Malone.

Banbury Utd (v Halesowen Tn, away): from Scott, Murrell, Learoyd, Martin, Milner, Coleman, Stanbridge, Redknap, Ashton, Stone, Taylor, Hillyard, Sharif, Harrison, Haisley.

Didcot Tn (v Bashley, home): from Trott, Sampson, Stanley, Heapy, John, Alexis, Draycott, Mortimer-Jones, Dutton-Black, Hopkins, Bartley, M Williams, Hills, Will-iams.

Abingdon Utd (v Uxbridge, away): from Hutton, Elkins, Weedon, Organ, Franklin, McCalmon, Brown, Melledew, Mills, Beechers, Dobson, Gardner, Haysham, Curtin, Carnell, Hunt.

North Leigh (v Paulton Rovers, away): from Lonsdale, Hole, Caton, Jackson, Huxley, Dodds, Reardon, Burnell, Futcher, McCabe, Posey, Saunders, Allen, Taylor.