DAVID Oldfield admits the feeling of seeing Oxford City top of Vanarama National League South is tempered by an incredibly close promotion race.

The high-fliers lead the pack on goal difference heading into tonight’s game against ninth-placed Dorking Wanderers at Court Place Farm (7.45pm).

It is a clash that illustrates how tight the division is, with the visitors just seven points behind City having played one match fewer.

Oldfield is understandably delighted to see his side out in front, but knows how quickly it can change.

The City manager said: “It’s a real testament to the players, the staff and everyone at the football club.

“It’s great to see Oxford City at the top, but the huge caveat to that is the league is incredibly tight.

“In a couple of games you can go from first to 11th, so we won’t get carried away.

“It gives us a brief moment to acknowledge it, but we need to remind how quickly it can change and we must keep working and progressing."

Tonight’s game is the only one in National League South, but Dorking could have been playing a division higher this season if events had not conspired against them.

The Surrey side were comfortably top of the table when the campaign was controversially declared null and void in February after a £10m government grant ran out.

Oldfield said: “I felt they were the best team last season and they were very unfortunate the league stopped.

“I know how good their manager (Marc White) is, they’ve got some good players with a mix of experience and youth. It’s a huge test.”

City boast the best defensive record in the division, with Chippenham Town’s equaliser in Saturday’s 1-1 draw the first goal conceded in more than 500 minutes of league football.

Oldfield said: “There’s no secret, it’s the desire and willingness of the group to work together as a team.

“The boys have been tremendous, but we have to be better and we all feel there’s so much more to come.

“If we’re not conceding many goals, that’s better for us.”

After tonight, City do not play until they welcome Slough Town to Court Place Farm on Boxing Day.

This weekend is pencilled in for Buildbase FA Trophy third round matches, but Oldfield’s side exited the competition with a 4-1 home defeat to St Albans City last month.

It makes training even more important over the next 12 days as City head into the busy Christmas period.

Oldfield said: “The reason we don’t have a game is because we went out of the cups tamely.

“We have to grab the opportunity to get some work into us.”

Banbury United can go top of Pitching In Southern League Premier Central tonight.

The Puritans will replace Coalville Town at the summit if they win at ninth-placed Hednesford Town.