United currently have nine players on the treatment table and with Kevin Mealor getting married and others unavailable this weekend, the Ducks could not field a side.

And the club is expected to make a decision by tomorrow(Friday) whether to cancel next Tuesday's friendly at Burnham as well.

Coach Mark Eaton confirmed that most are minor injuries and should be fit for the start of the British Gas Division One season.

However, the Ducks could only finish the Thatcham game on Tuesday with nine men after striker Andy Shed (ankle), Mark Jones (calf) and Adam Rhodes (groin) all picked up niggling injuries.

The injury situation may have affected the margin of the Thatcham defeat, but Eaton insisted that the club were still very positive for the forthcoming season.

"It's not the result that concerns us," Eaton said. "It's just making sure that we don't pick up any more injuries."

Eaton said individual errors were part of the reason for the heavy defeat.

The injury list includes Carl Kavanagh (knee), Chris Henney (hamstring pull), Shed (ankle), Jones (calf), Adam Rhodes (groin) and Nathan Graham (twisted ankle).

The club also hopes that Liam Smyth and Matt Butler, long-term injuries from last season, will be a step nearer fitness by the start of the season.

Meanwhile, Eaton confirmed that the Ducks were hoping to offer terms to Rhodes, who was at Hellenic League Thame United last season.

"We'll definitely sign him, " Eaton said. "He has impressed (in pre-season), he's an excellent player. He's had a good grounding at West Ham (as an apprentice)."

The Ducks management team are happy with the squad they have put together, but there might be one more signing.

"I've made one or two enquiries this morning," Eaton said on Wednesday. "We might bring in a forward, maybe on a loan basis for the first month of the season. Apart from that, I think we'll be okay."