Didcot Town joint manager Ian Concannon is hoping to cap a fine week for his side with a victory over local rivals Wantage Town in Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West tomorrow, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.
After 33-goal striker John Mills reaffirmed his commitment to the Railwaymen before Tuesday’s FA Trophy replay victory over high-flying Merthyr Town, Concannon is hoping tomorrow’s derby clash can round off a great few days.
“It was a great result for the lads, a great result for the club, but we’re over it now and we move on to Saturday,” he said.
“We obviously want to continue our winning streak and carry on that momentum from the Merthyr game.”
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The win extended Didcot’s unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions and Concannon is confident they can continue their impressive recent form tomorrow.
“Winning breeds confidence and confidence breeds momentum,” he added.
“I think our form is down to a mixture of all those things.
“The lads have been taking on board what we want them to do, we’ve been playing good football and that obviously brings results.
“Winning games is a good habit to have and when you’re in that habit it’s not a nice feeling to get beaten.
“There’s a real winning mentality growing in the squad now.”
Midfielder Josh Baines is a doubt due to illness, but the hosts have an otherwise full squad to choose from.
Wantage are also close to full strength, with just Karl Roberts missing due to work commitments, and manager Daniel Barry is plotting an upset.
The visitors are third from bottom in the league and are without a win in their last five matches, but Barry feels they’re capable of springing a surprise.
He said: “The lads’ attitude, work rate and quality has been excellent and we look forward to gauging where we are at against one of the best in the league.
“It’s excellent to have a local side doing so well and probably the worst time to play them, but we are really looking forward to the test and we go there on the back of some excellent performances which haven’t got the results we deserved.”
TOMORROW’S SQUADS
Didcot Tn (v Wantage Tn, home): from Foster, Elkins, Carnell, Learoyd, Organ, McKirnan, Self, Ballard, Haysham, Longford, Mills, Bernasconi, Heapy, Williams, Clark, Brooks, Dutton-Black, M Woodley.
Wantage Tn (v Didcot Tn, away): from Tucker, Glover, Parish, Warne, Cattell, Hulbert-Thomas, Jones, Doyle, Janes, Thorne, Johns, A Lovegrove, Reid, Barder, I Lovegrove.
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