BANBURY United manager Mike Ford believes his side and Monday’s visitors Leamington are polar opposites.

The Puritans host the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division leaders on Monday and despite a 16-point gap between the two sides, Ford believes his charges are the more attractive side.

“I think it’ll be a real contrast of styles,” he said.

“We like to play right out from the back, whereas they just kick it as far as they can.

“My team respect the opposition and the officials, whereas they will try to bully the ref and bully us.

“They’re very physical and very direct and they use bully-boy tactics, like the Wimbledon of old.

“If we can get the result on Monday, football will be the winner.”

Ricky Johnson is the only doubt for Banbury with an ankle injury.

Didcot Town make the short trip to North Leigh in Division 1 South & West without the injured Ryan Barney (hamstring).

The Railwaymen came from behind to beat rivals Wantage Town 3-1 on Boxing Day, but player-manager Andy Ballard believes his side’s second derby in a week will be a tougher test.

“Local derbies are always tricky,” he said. “This one will be slightly different. Wantage are in the relegation zone, while North Leigh are looking towards the play-offs.”

“It’s a different kind of challenge.”

Jack Longford is back from a knee injury, but Conor Davis has returned to parent club Reading and Oxford United loanee Jordan Graham is out with a knee problem.

North Leigh hope to extend the loan of teenage goalkeeper Manny Agboola from Oxford United until the end of the season.

Having impressed for the Millers after arriving in November, manager John Brough believes the youngster has a successful career ahead of him.

Brough said: “We’ve had some very promising discussions with Oxford United about him and hopefully we’re going to hang on to him.

“He’s only 19 and you can see already he’s got a big future ahead of him if he carries on as he has been.

“He’s still got a lot to learn but his shot-stopping has been exceptional and a few have been genuinely world class – and I don’t say that lightly.”

Jon Else returns from a hamstring injury for North Leigh, but Morgan Williams (knee) remains out, an ankle injury rules out James Fawke and Aaron Woodley misses out as he faces a knee operation.

New Wantage Town manager Ben Sadler believes his side are not far from turning their season around as they prepare to host Swindon Supermarine.

Sadler’s first game in charge ended with the 3-1 defeat at Didcot, but he feels there were plenty of reasons for optimism.

“I really enjoyed it and I thought the boys did quite well,” Sadler said.

“I think it’s just important that we get that first win under our belts against an established side and that’ll make a real difference.

“If we can get something against Supermarine that’ll give us a big boost to take into the Yate game the following weekend.”

Mark Burton and Jared Jones return to the side, but Adam Doyle (knee), Jake Johns (groin) and Tai Hulbert-Thomas (hernia) are injured.

In Division 1 Central, Kidlington look to recover from their 6-0 mauling by Beaconsfield SYCOB on Boxing Day as they welcome Aylesbury United.

Manager Julian McCalmon admitted he felt let down by the display.

“It was a disaster,” he said.

“Some of them enjoyed Christmas a little too much and forgot the level of professionalism we expect from them.

“They let me down and they let the club down to an extent, but I think most importantly they let themselves down.”

“Monday is their chance to put it right.”

Wahteq al-Haqim returns to the side, but Lewis Coyle and Jack Quainton are both unavailable, while Henry Owen is suspended.

MONDAY’S SQUADS

Banbury Utd (v Leamington, home): from Harding, Gunn, White, Nash, Odhiambo, Westbrook, Martin, Bell, Browne, Self, McEachran, Johnson, Sambrook, Rimmer, Davies, McDonagh, Blackstock, Carnell, Humphreys, Ofosu.

Didcot Tn (v North Leigh, away): from Bedwell, Organ, Ballard, Collins, Keeble, Whitehead, Benjamin, Barder, Tanner, Lovegrove, Thomas, Janes, Longford, Elkins, Joyce, McNish, Thorne, Cattell.

North Leigh (v Didcot Tn, home): from Agboola, White, Murphy, Hopkins, L Williams, R James, D James, Seacole, M Woodley, Wrona, Thompson, Cook, Platt, Sysum, Gray, Else.

Wantage Tn (v Swindon S’marine, home): from Cavanagh, Thompson, Kalakoutis, Francis, Elliott, Butler, Burton, Broad, Halls, Scholes, Jones, Glover, Brown, Robinson, D Sadler, Hathaway, McNeil, McKeon, Austin, Wood, Shamsi, Preece, Hunte.

Kidlington (v Aylesbury Utd, home): from Warrell, Janes, Franklin, Flanagan, Castle, Gabbidon, Osborne-Ricketts, E Odhiambo, A Odhiambo, Harvey ,B Weedon, Al-Hakim, Tooke, Willoughby.