Oxford City boss Justin Merritt hopes to banish any lingering memory of Saturday’s disappointing defeat when his side travel to Maidenhead United in Vanarama National League South tonight.

City were surprisingly beaten 2-1 by Hayes & Yeading United in dreadful conditions at Maidenhead on Saturday, but Merritt believes they will be better equipped to deal with the waterlogged pitch on their return to the scene of the crime.

“The conditions obviously made life difficult and that was a bit of a leveller at the weekend,” he said.

“It certainly hampered our slick passing game and I don’t think we dealt with the conditions as well as we could have.

“We know what to expect from the pitch now and we have to learn from it.”

City are without full-back David King as he starts a two-game suspension, while fellow defender Alejandro-Adrian Santiago is also a doubt after picking up a back injury.

However, Jose Lapoujade returns to the fold after completing a one-match ban.

Banbury United travel to Tiverton Town looking to extend their winning streak in Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West to seven games.

And after signing winger Michael Hopkins from North Leigh, manager Mike Ford believes they’re now stronger than ever.

“What he’ll give us is a bit more quality and pace on that left-hand side, which we had maybe lacked previously,” said Ford.

“He’s a good acquisition and as with any signing I make he’s not going to be coming here to sit on the bench.”

Defender Miles Welch-Hayes returns to the squad, having been recalled by parent club Oxford United under 18s for their 4-1 victory at Peterborough United on Saturday, while John Steedman has left the club.

Midfielder Sam Barder returns for Wantage Town as they entertain Yate Town, having been unavailable for the Alfredians’ narrow 1-0 defeat to North Leigh.

Carl Evans and Nick Thorne are both unavailable for Wantage, while Sam Collier is suspended.

TONIGHT’S SQUADS

Oxford City (v Maidenhead Utd, away): from Walker, Arzamendi, Lapoujade, Santiago, Bevans, Henderson, Fleet, Lafuente, Isaac, Whichelow, Bubb, McDonagh, Jackson, Benjamin, Pifarré, Roberts.

Banbury Utd (v Tiverton Tn, away): from Harding, White, Welch-Hayes, Martin, Wise, Westbrook, Gunn, Stanbridge, Browne, Nash, Bell, Johnson, Howards, McEachran, Blackstock, Barcelos, Hopkins.

Wantage Tn (v Yate Tn, home): from Cavanagh, Whitehead, Elliott, Cattell, Carbon, Glover, Clark, Hulbert-Thomas, Ferris, Johns, Amadeu, Kalakoutis, McNeil, Doyle, Powell, Coleman, Francis.