PHIL Mason is set to make his first appearance for Banbury United since last August after recovering from a severe knee injury.

The ex-Oxford City player, signed by Kevin Brock from Boreham Wood last summer, played only 20 minutes of his debut against Eastbourne before he injured the knee.

However, he is in the squad for their visit to Burnham in the Dr Martens League Eastern Division on Boxing Day (11.30) after he came through Saturday's reserve match unscathed.

Manager Brock said: "It was a dreadful time for us, because we had just lost Matty Gooderick with a broken leg, Jon Corbett was struggling with his Achilles, Andy Wallbridge had a knee injury and Scott Taylor was unavailable. But we got together as a team and came through it.

"To have Phil playing again would be a massive boost for us. Over the next three or four games, I think five or six of the sides at the top will start to pull away from the others, and I want us to be one of those teams."

ButBrock is resigned to losing at least one player soon, as Corbett, Wayne Blossom and Ady Fuller are on four yellow cards - one away from an automatic one-match ban.

Alex Stewart returns to Thame United's squad after serving a one-match ban as they travel to Marlow in Ryman League Division 1 North (3pm).

Jon Gardner hopes to shake off a minor knock to join a full-strength squad aiming to extend their unbeaten run to six matches.

Oxford City are without a game. They were due to play Uxbridge away, but both clubs agreed to postpone the fixture as a low crowd was expected.

Former Didcot Town midfielder Matt Bianchini is set to make his Abingdon Town debut in their noon showdown with fellow Ryman League Division 2 high-fliers Flackwell Heath.

Abingdon boss Pete Lamont said: "Matt was out of favour there. He came on a recommendation, so I put in a seven-day bid and they accepted it. He'll be a good addition to the squad."

Lamont said a win on Boxing Day was vital: "If we win the game, we'll be second going into the New Year.

"I have given myself an 18-month plan to get Town into Division 1 and then take it from there.

"If I don't do it, someone else will have to come in. I've been in charge for six weeks and I'm loving it."

BOXING DAY SQUADS

Thame Utd (v Marlow, away): from Foster, Abbasi, Joyce, Saulsbury, Williams, Smith, Avery, Ferreira, Gardner, West, Jones, Silvestri, Thornton, Freeman, Chowns, Stewart.

Banbury Utd (v Burnham, away): from Tricker, Fuller, Blossom, Sullivan, Allen, Simpson, Travers, Stanbridge, Sylla, Redknap, O'Neill, Taylor, Essex, Wallbridge, Corbett, Mason.

Abingdon Tn (v Flackwell Heath, home): from Beames, Tregurtha, Burden, Squires, Beauchamp, Thomas, Parker, Didcock, Potter, Curran, Scanes, Oram, Brewerton, Douglas, Melrose, Curran, Bianchini.