Thame United seek to provide further evidence that joint manager Alan Thorne's shock sacking won't hamper their march towards the Ryman League Division 1 title when they take on struggling Walton & Hersham at Windmill Stadium tomorrow.

Andy Sinnott, who is now in sole control, told the players of his managerial partner's dismissal for disciplinary reasons at training before last Saturday's trip to bottom club Barton Rovers.

And it didn't knock them out of their stride as Mick Swaysland's double strike gave them a 2-1 victory to go eight points clear at the top.

Sinnott said: "Things seem to have settled down. I have had a long chat with Alan and it all seems, while regrettable, to have been put to bed now. We have got to get on with life.

"The response from the players was magnificent just what I would have expected. It has been a difficult week, but we have got to get a result against Walton."

Thame's cause isn't helped by skipper Martin Brown and midfielder Alex Minton serving one-match bans.

With Justin Merritt (groin) and Justin Lee (abdominal strain) injured and Chris Fontaine unavailable, Thame's midfield rescources are stretched.

Rob Smith and Chris Potter are set for places in the starting line-up, while Robbie Eason comes into the squad for the first time as defensive cover.

Meanwhile, centre back Mark Avery has signed a two-and-a-half year contract, but striker Wayne Cort looks set to miss the rest of the season after his knee injury was diagnosed as a hairline fracture of the tibial plateau.

Oxford City's club captain, Matty Hayward, has had a setback as he continues his comeback from a serious knee injury after picking up a hamstring strain.

He misses the trip to Bishop's Stortford in Division 1, but should be back in contention in ten days time.

City will also be without Chris Organ, who sets off on a round-the-world trip today.

On the plus side, Andy Smith came through Tuesday's 2-0 cup win over Bromley without any problems following a spell out with Achilless tendonitis. It's also hoped that Nigel Emsden and Mark Druce will have recovered from flu.

Last Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Romford was a blow to City's outside chances of promotion, and boss Paul Lee admitted: "To stand any chance we can't afford to drop many points at all."

Abingdon Town's Division 3 game against Bracknell Town is subject to an early morning pitch inspection with one end of the Culham Road pitch under water yesterday.

TOMORROW'S LINE-UPS

Oxford City (v Bishop's Stortford, away): from Foster, Ferreira, Dark, Peirson, Thorp, Wise, Lewis, Whitehead, Druce, Wimble, Strong, Emsden, Waterhouse, Smith, Abassi.

Thame Utd (v Walton & Hersham, home): from Moores, Potter, G Williams, Smith, A Williams, Avery, Jones, Perna, Mitchell, West, Swaysland, Eason, Hamp, Champ, Bradley.

Abingdon Tn (v Bracknell Tn, home): from McLaughlin, Thomas, Burden, Hannah, Price, Watts, Blencowe, Border, Paterson, Twine, Gardner, Morgan, Cleevely, Charles.