FOOTBALL: Boss Fowler praying for rain!

8:00am Friday 5th September 2008

Bicester Town manager Tim Fowler is looking for the weather to do him a favour ahead of tomorrow's first qualifying home tie against Wantage.

Midfielder Ben Elkington is due to play cricket for Twyford in The Oxford Times Cherwell League, but if the rain intervenes he will be available for the derby clash.

"If it rains he is in the side," said Fowler, who welcomes back Dan Ames after the skipper missed Tuesday's draw at Kidlington as he had to work.

"So obviously I'm just hoping for rain. I will be glad when the cricket season is over, so that we can start working with him properly."

Nigel Emsden should recover from a calf injury.

Fowler added: "I saw Wantage in the FA Cup on the internet against Brading and they looked a good footballing side."

The winners face Hellenic League Division 1 West side Binfield on September 20.

Meanwhile, Ardley United reached the first round of the Floodlit Cup with a 1-0 win at Chalfont Wasps, thanks to a goal from Danny Mason.

It was third time lucky for Kevin Brock's side who lost their previous two encounters against the Buckinghamshire outfit.

Tomorrow, Ardley host Premier Division Witney United.

Launton Sports will be without midfielder Jason Bedford for up to six weeks with an ankle stress fracture.

Tomorrow, they travel to Ascot United in Division 1 East looking for their first win of the season.

Saturday's squads Bicester Tn (v Wantage Tn, home): from McNamara, Hunt, Lambourn, Lovegrove, Leggett, Elkington, Butler, Kyberd, Houlihan, Williams, Johnson, Ames, Umney, Skowronski, French.

Launton Sp (v Ascot Utd, away): from Anderson, Basanti, G Bedford, Blossom, Brown, Chandler, Clifford, Delahunt, Durrant, Jeskins, Jones, P Lisseter, Moore, Ross, Zaid.