BANBURY United face one of their longest league trips of the season when they travel to Needham Market in BetVictor Southern League Premier Division Central tomorrow.

The 260-mile round journey could be softened by the potential return of influential front man Ricky Johnson, who received positive news after having a scan on a recurring knee injury.

Johnson’s recovery is a boost for boss Mike Ford, who insisted he was looking forward to the visit to East Anglia.

The manager said: “These long trips enable the lads to get to know each other and have some banter on the way.

“Needham will play some good football, and we are in form too, so it should be a good game.

“I’m pretty satisfied with where we are, it’s now a question of what we are going to do to challenge ourselves to step up a level.

“We cannot rest on our laurels – if we’ve been in third gear, then let’s step up to fourth gear. If we’re in fourth gear, let’s get up to fifth.”

In Division 1 Central, Wantage Town joint manager Matt Biddle is optimistic ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with Coleshill Town.

The Alfredians are rock bottom and pointless, scoring just two goals and conceding 37, but took Cirencester Town to penalties following a 1-1 draw in Tuesday’s Southern League Cup tie.

Biddle said: “We are more positive and optimistic that we are going in the right direction.

“We were unlucky to lose on spot kicks at Cirencester and the attitude, personnel and mentality in the squad has improved significantly.”

Dan James is out with a knee problem, but James Webster, Ali Thorpe and Trevor Mutero are all available again after injuries.

Cam Pomroy and Ross Roberts have signed and could make their debuts, while Jarred Jones and Tom Eatwell could make their first league appearances after being promoted from the development side.

Didcot Town are on a high after knocking AFC Dunstable off the top with a 4-3 win last weekend.

They entertain Daventry Town at Loop Meadow tomorrow and boss Jamie Heapy is relishing the challenge.

He said: “All the hard work we’ve put in on the training pitch over the last few weeks really paid off last week. As a team, that was the best we had played all season.

“We now need to back that up tomorrow against a decent Daventry side, who have had a decent start.”

Mark Bell is unavailable, while Seth Humphries is out with an ankle injury.

Thame United travel to unbeaten leaders Berkhamsted, who have conceded just twice all season.

Lynton Goss is still on the treatment table, but Harry Mepham is back after a four-week lay-off with an ankle injury.

On Wednesday, Thame beat Kidlington 2-1 in their Buildbase FA Trophy extra preliminary round replay, with Julian McCalmon’s side away at Aylesbury United tomorrow.

North Leigh will be looking forward to returning to league action at Kempston Rovers after exiting the Emirates FA Cup and the Trophy in consecutive weeks.

The Millers led 3-1 at Basingstoke Town in the latter competition last weekend, only to lose 4-3, with boss Craig Dore naming an unchanged squad from that defeat.

TOMORROW’S SQUADS:

Banbury Utd (v Needham Market, away): from Harding, Roberts, Odhiambo, Westbrook, Hawtin, Rasulo, Haysham, Dias, Mills, Gordon, Johnson, Cayola, Awadh, Ngaah, Okito, Silva, Isaac.

Wantage Tn (v Coleshill Tn, home): from Gorman, Eatwell, Webster, Tuttle, Lee, King, Jackson, Roberts, Glover, Pomroy, Jones, Fry, Drammeh, Hartley, Mutero, Shoyoye, Newbrook, Buchanon.

Didcot Tn (v Daventry Tn, home): from Bedwell, Talboys, McNeill, Hayden, Carnell, Gilmore, Dark, Nash, Francis, Reid, Pin, Gardner, Heapy, Sampford, Thomas, Green.

Thame Utd (v Berkhamsted, away): from Hill, Lynn, Essex, Mapley, Hackett, Sturgess, Ashworth, Martin, West, Gledhill, Murray, Evans, Simms, Tutton, Harris, Blake, Mealing, Mepham.

North Leigh (v Kempston Rovers, away): from Cavanagh, Ngathe, Brown, Learoyd, M Williams, Woodley, Linford-Pill, H Grant, Elliott, L Williams, Dutton-Black, Gunn, Gillett, Hunte, Ishmael, Alexis.