Oxford United centre back Luke Foster revealed his relief at learning he only has a one-match ban for his sending-off against Northwich.

Because it means he will be available after all for United's trip to high-flying Torquay next Tuesday.

That Blue Square Premier game is a special one for the U's anyway, because there are four former Oxford players in the Gulls side.

A bigger reason for Foster, though, is that he has many relatives and friends who are Torquay fans and will be at the game.

He said: "I was chuffed to bits when I heard it was just a one-match ban - ecstatic really. I didn't want to be missing games anyway at this stage of the season, and it's disappointing to have to miss one. But I definitely didn't want to miss the Torquay game.

"That's a massive game for me and there's a lot of personal pride at stake. There'll be between 15 and 20 of my family there watching.

"Obviously my dad and mum are proud of me and want me to do well, and will be cheering on Oxford United on the night.

"And I'm just hoping I can get a goal, or the winner, so they can have the last word against all their 'Torquay' relatives."

Trying to stop Foster at Plainmoor will be ex-United players Tim Sills, Lee Mansell, Chris Zebroski and Chris Hargreaves, which will give an extra edge to the contest.

The first meeting of the sides this season, at the Kassam Stadium on October 11, was a remarkable match - screened live by Setanta - because Oxford led 3-0 at half-time before the Gulls hit back in the second half to earn a 3-3 draw.

Before next Tuesday, Darren Patterson's side must first deal with relegation-threatened Weymouth in Dorset this Saturday, and Matt Day is expected to take over from Foster in that game.

Foster is angry that he was given a red card.

But the irony is, had he not got a second yellow, he would have been handed a two-game ban because it would have taken him to ten yellow cards for the season.

A second booking meant a red card, and the initial yellow card was then discounted from the totting-up procedure.

But the ex-Lincoln and Macclesfield defender knows he is still walking a tightrope, with a suspension looming if he picks up another caution.

He said: "Inevitably, I'm still on nine yellows and one more will mean another suspension. But I had gone quite a few games on nine before last weekend.

"It's not brilliant to have that hanging over me, but the date comes round soon when they get wiped out, so I'm just hoping to survive until then.

"I thought both cards were very touch-and-go as to whether they were given as fouls, and the second one was very harsh. I even pulled out, pulling my leg away so that I didn't give a foul away.

"It's the first time I've ever been sent off.

"The ref even admitted to Quinny, when he went up as the captain to ask for an explanation, that he'd forgotten about my first yellow card in the first half. So I felt very hard done by."