MIKE Ford insists resting key players for Wednesday’s Oxfordshire Senior Cup semi-final defeat to Oxford City will aid Banbury United’s BetVictor Southern League Premier Central play-off push.

The Puritans lost 4-2, but Ford’s primary focus is on the league ahead of tomorrow’s trip to St Ives Town.

He said: “If you take out the two minutes after half-time when City scored two goals, I was happy with our team performance.

“It was good preparation for the game at St Ives, and I was not too displeased as I managed to get lads to get some game time.

“No disrespect to the Senior Cup, but tomorrow’s game against St Ives is far more important.

“I protected a few, a few didn’t get stripped at all, a few sat on the bench and didn’t get on.

“We have to understand that the cup game was a separate fixture, but the league fixtures are really important to win.

“St Ives is one that we will be expected to win.”

Ricky Johnson, Giorgio Rasulo and Greg Kaziboni were rested, with Banbury just one point off the top five.

Ford said: “If we are now being judged as play-off contenders based on a couple of results, that’s great, but we are going to lose games.

“I’m not getting carried away, but we are in a position to be nearer the top boys. A win tomorrow will push us even closer.

“We will prepare thoroughly for St Ives and then for Kings Langley on Tuesday.

“We’re in a position to have a go. This time last year, we were in a bit of a malaise, this year is very different and have every incentive to give everything that we can.”

Thame United are looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Barton Rovers when they entertain Daventry Town.

Mark West's side led 1-0 against Barton, only to concede twice in the second to slip to defeat.

West said: “We just threw it away against Barton. It’s a game we should have won – we gave away two silly goals.”

Thame have signed centre half Baboucarr Jarra from Vanarama National League South side Hungerford Town, while Matt Peake-Pinjen and Tom Ashworth return.

West said: “Babs has played at a good level and he’s going to be a good signing for us.

“He will travel up with Chris Rackley, our new goalkeeper, so hopefully his addition will sharpen up our defence a bit.”

Lynton Goss (ankle) is doubtful, but should be fit.

North Leigh are back at Eynsham Park against Biggleswade, aiming to avenge last month’s 3-0 loss.

The Millers’ 2-2 midweek draw against Coleshill Town left them four points off the play-offs with a game in hand.

Manager Craig Dore said: “A draw was fair against Coleshill, but when we went to Biggleswade, we were very poor.

“I’m confident we can do better at home against them, and we have targeted the play-offs.

“We have put ourselves in a really good position now, so a win tomorrow would really help the cause.”

Callum McNish (hamstring) is still out, while North Leigh have signed ex-Oxford United academy striker Ryan Crooks.

Didcot Town entertain second-placed Halesowen Town without Kieran Collins (knee) and Cam McNeill (suspended), while Jack Longford faces a fitness test.

The Railwaymen fell to an agonising last-minute defeat at Biggleswade last weekend.

Boss Jamie Heapy said: “We were great at Biggleswade and definitely deserved something from the game.

“But we know tomorrow is a big game against a very good Halesowen side.”

Wantage Town are looking for a morale-boosting win at home to fellow strugglers St Neots Town.

They are without Dan James (knee), but Owen Shaw is back in light training and will play for the club’s development team this weekend.

Manager Matt Biddle said: “Losing 8-1 at Corby was obviously another massive setback, and half the squad underperformed.

“The lads are still learning, and they need to learn quickly if we are to stand a chance of picking up any points.

“On the plus side, we’ve scored in 11 of our last 13 games, which is an improvement from the start of the season.”

Tommy Castle (hamstring) is the only player to miss Kidlington’s home game against Coleshill.

Ben Sadler’s side have lost just one of their last six games and cruised to an excellent 3-0 win at AFC Dunstable last weekend.

“Last Saturday was a very pleasing performance, where the team out worked Dunstable out and limited them to only half chances throughout,” Sadler said.

“We will be expecting another a tough game as Coleshill are no mugs and are currently three points above us in the table and unbeaten in four games.”

TOMORROW’S LINE-UPS

Banbury Utd (v St Ives Tn, away): from Harding, Roberts, Ngaah Bosio, Westbrook, Hawtin, Shamsi, Henderson, Rasulo, Johnson, Awadh, Walker, Odhiambo, Wilson, Fairlamb, Kaziboni, McDonald.

Thame Utd (v Daventry Tn, home): from Rackley, Lynn, Mapley, Hackett, Jarra, Essex, West, Simms, Harris, Blake, Sturgess, Tack, Tutton, Goss, Stevens, Ashworth, Peake-Pinjen.

Didcot Tn (v Halesowen Tn, home): from Bedwell, Carnell, Green, Isaac, Nash, Hayden, Silva, Francis, Dark, Collins, Stanley, Bell, Humphries, Longford, Gilmore, Talboys, Thomas, Giles.

North Leigh (v Biggleswade, home): from Heap, Isherwood, Learoyd, Gunn, Atkinson, Landers, Grant, L Williams, Seacole, M Williams, Woodley, Alexis, Brown, Osborne-Ricketts, Crooks, North.

Wantage Tn (v St Neots, home): from McKenzie-Lyle, Tuttle, Fry, Singh, Broadley, Ibie, Sule, Lee, Martei, Sheppard, Mutero, Webster, Alhassan, Adegoke, Jones, McKeon.

Kidlington (v Coleshill Tn): from Lawrence, Davidson, West, Moore, Peart, Franklin, Glover, Morton, Robertson, Davidge, Gillett, Mattimore, Willoughby, Flanagan, Patterson, London.