THE pressure is mounting in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West promotion race, according to Banbury United manager Mike Ford.

The Puritans host AFC Totton tomorrow looking to maintain their place at the top of the table, which they retained on goal difference following Cinderford Town’s 2-2 draw with Winchester City on Tuesday evening.

But with their closest rivals winning just once in five games, Ford believes the strain is starting to tell on the title favourites.

He said: “Cinderford knew they had to win in order to overtake us and I think they’re feeling the pressure a little bit.

“If you look at any of the teams in the play-off positions at the moment, they’re not winning games as comfortably as they were, because there’s pressure on all of them.

“We’re expected to win this weekend and that puts pressure on us, but if we end up in the play-offs it will be good practice.”

Banbury welcome back defenders Miles Welch-Hayes, Callum White and Charlie Wise from illness, while Andy Gunn is back from suspension.

North Leigh could do the Puritans a big favour this weekend if they can get a result at home to Cinderford.

The Millers are at full strength, with the exception of midfielder Jon Else, who is unavailable.

Wantage Town welcome back James Glover and Josias Carbon as they travel to Larkhall Athletic, while striker Mark Francis is expected to shrug off a groin injury.

Player-manager Stuart Cattell, who is ruled out with a rib injury, has urged his side to put points on the board now to ensure their safety after seeing their cushion over the drop zone trimmed to five points last weekend.

“All the lads are desperate to get the points which will see us to safety,” he said.

“We’ve only got three games left for them to prove they deserve to play at this level and I think we do deserve to stay up.”

Didcot Town assistant manager Ian Lovegrove told his players to prove they deserve a place in the side as he and boss Andy Ballard begin to prepare for next season.

The Railwaymen make the trip to struggling Wimborne Town tomorrow with a question mark over striker Mark Janes due to illness, but Lovegrove believes it offers an opportunity to fringe players to prove their worth to the side.

Lovegrove said: “We can start to look at who we want to keep for next season and look at areas we want to improve in.”

Ryan Barney and George Reid both return to the squad after recovering from injury, but Jack Self (ankle) and Graham Edney (unavailable) are missing.

TOMORROW’S SQUADS

Banbury Utd (v AFC Totton): from Harding, Welch-Hayes, White, Wise, Westbrook, Stanbridge, Gunn, Browne, Nash, Johnson, Howards, McEachran, Blackstock, Barcelos, Hopkins, Davies, Bell, Martin.

North Leigh (v Cinderford Tn, home): from Foster, Hole, Elkins, M Williams, M Woodley, Osborne-Ricketts, Turk, McNish, Cook, White, L Williams, Seacole, Brown, Westlake, Taylor.

Wantage Tn (v Larkhall Ath, home: from Cavanagh, Elliott, Collier, Carbon, Evans, Jones, Evans, Barder, Glover, Wrona, Kalakoutis, Hulbert-Thomas, McNeil, Doyle, Powell, Coleman, Francis, Johns, Oakley.

Didcot Tn (v Wimborne Tn, away): from Bedwell, Learoyd, Carnell, Longford, Ballard, Janes, Organ, Beer, Collins, Thompson, Gannon, Woodhouse, Noble, Powell, Tanner, Barney, Reid.