FAIRFORD Town manager Jody Bevan does not know what to expect from Ardley United this weekend after a recent change in manager and several squad members at the division strugglers.

While Saturday’s visitors have cruised along quite serenely all season, picking up points and filling one of the top-five spots for the majority, Ardley have constantly been in a fight against relegation.

Matthew Knight replaced Craig Adey a little over a month ago, and since then United have gained just one point from four games – coming in a 2-2 draw against Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

Beginning a stretch of fixtures that will see Fairford play nine away games in their remaining 14, Town manager Bevan is hopeful of continuing their good travelling form against an unknown quantity.

He said: “It’s another case of a bit of the unknown for us because they’ve recently changed their manager and I think they’ve signed a load of new players.

“You don’t quite know what you’re getting to get from Ardley.

“We did very well last Saturday, and the week before, so we just want to continue on that run of form and look to get some more points.

“Our away form has been better than our away form, so the schedule isn’t something that holds any fear for us at all if I’m honest. We’ll get on with it and see how we go.”

Though there is not likely to be any fear of this weekend’s game being postponed, Fairford do have a bit of catching up to do on several teams around them as a result of waterlogged pitches.

Bevan was keen to point out however that most of those games have occurred away from Cinder Lane, and Fairford’s home patch has been exemplary this term.

Bevan said: “The pitch at Cinder Lane has been a lot better this season.

“We did spend a lot of money on it during last summer to help with the drainage and so on, and I think only one game has been called off at home because of the weather this season.

“I wish we could have had a lot more home games because then I think we’d be a lot closer to the rest with our overall games.”

Elsewhere, Bassett travel to Burnham while Shrivenham are also on the road against Easington Sports.