BANBURY United travel to basement boys Cinderford Town tomorrow as their push for the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division play-offs gathers pace.

A 1-0 win at Hayes & Yeading last weekend leaves the Puritans one point behind fifth-placed Merthyr, who are away to St Neots.

But Mike Ford’s men face the tougher run-in, with their final three matches against sides in the top-eight, including games against Leamington and Hitchin, who are second and third respectively.

“At this time of the year you get some strange results,” Ford said.

“Two of our rivals got pegged back last week while we got a hard-fought win, so it keeps us in the hunt.

“Relegation is upon Cinderford, but we just have to go about our job the right way again. We need to be switched on and play as we have been doing.”

“If you take league positions into consideration, our run-in is tougher. But the way I’m looking at it is there are no easy games for anyone in this league. We have games against promotion rivals coming up, so they will all be playing to win. That will open up chances for us.

“But if we don’t get the result tomorrow then the rest of the season could be irrelevant.”

Defender Callum White misses the game, and possibly the rest of the season, after he suffered badly bruised kidneys in a collision at Hayes last weekend.

“Callum finished the game, but was in a lot of pain,” Ford said.

“He’s spent the last four or five days in hospital, and he’s definitely out tomorrow and probably the rest of the season.

“That’s a big blow for him and for us, because he’s been magnificent.”

North Leigh will be without skipper Stuart Hole for their trip to Yate Town in Division 1 South & West.

Skipper Hole has a bad back and also missed the midweek win over Bishops Cleeve – the Millers’ fifth successive league victory.

The west Oxfordshire side are having an outstanding end to the campaign, and although unlikely to make the play-offs, boss John Brough will not be taking his foot off the pedal.

He said: “It’s a shame we couldn’t have had this run earlier in the season when we had a dodgy spell after Christmas.

“But teams will drop points against each other, and all I’ve asked is to keep playing the way we have been. On the back of five straight wins, confidence is right up there.”

“If we win all our games, you never know, but if we end the season just outside the play-offs, we will take stock, digest the whole season and say it’s been a 7 ½ out of ten season for us.”

Matt Sysum is also missing, as he is away.

Didcot Town host fellow mid-table side Wimborne Town at Loop Meadow with boss Andy Ballard keen to go one better than the 1-1 draw in Dorset in January.

“We drew 1-1 at their place but missed a last minute penalty, so we will definitely be looking for a win this time,” he said.

Jack Longford and Ryan Barney are still out through injury, while Sam Elkins is banned.

However, with the league’s decision to replay the Hereford match, it means Elkins will now be back in contention for the last game of the season against Mangotsfield, something which boss Andy Ballard is happy about.

“It would have been a shame for Sam to miss the rest of the season, so with the Hereford game being rearranged, it means he gets one last chance to play this year, which is great for him, as he’s been outstanding this year.”

Wantage Town who were relegated last weekend, despite a battling performance at Hereford, make the trip to Salisbury City.

In Division 1 Central, Kidlington make the trip to Potters Bar Town.

Keeper Sam Warrell and defender Tom Franklin return from suspension.

TOMORROW’S SQUADS

Banbury Utd (v Cinderford Tn, away): from Harding, Bradbury, Martin, Westbrook, Carnell, McEachran, Nash, Johnson, McDonagh, Winters, Odhiambo, Duku, Humphreys, Bell, Browne, Self.

North Leigh (v Yate Tn, away): Clayton, Lymn, D James, Turk, Wellon, Thomas, L Williams, Seacole, Cook, Hopkins, Gunn, Wyatt, James, M Williams.

Didcot Tn (v Wimborne Tn, home): from Bedwell, Thomas, Janes, Ballard, Learoyd, Barder, McNish, B Whitehead, Joyce, Reid, Jeacock, Thorne, H Whitehead, Andrady, Hoskin, Cattell.

Kidlington (v Potters Bar Tn, away): from Warrell, Willoughby, Quainton, Franklin, Flanagan, Castle, Coyle, Osborne-Ricketts, Gabbidon, Janes, Harvey, A Odhiambo, E Odhiambo, Dunmall, Whitehead.