ANDY Ballard is full of confidence ahead of Didcot Town’s West Division clash at home to fellow high-fliers Bristol Manor Farm tomorrow.

Last weekend’s 4-0 victory against Cirencester Town – his 100th game in charge – pushed the Railwaymen into the play-off positions, but they are up against a side in top form in third place.

“We were very dominant against Cirencester,” Ballard said.

“We defended well all afternoon and our attacking pace and flare were a joy to watch.

“My message to the players will be to keep this good run going – it’s as simple as that.

“It’s worth noting that we have had four or five regulars unavailable, and so credit has to go to my team for the consistent performances.”

Ollie Thomas will be back from suspension, while Seth Humphries, Louis Joyce and Callum McNish remain sidelined through injury.

Matty Woodley is away, and Marlon Agyakwa faces a late fitness test.

Meanwhile, Didcot have been drawn at home to Redditch United in the quarter-finals of the bigfreebet Challenge Cup following their penalty shoot-out win over Chesham United in midweek.

North Leigh boss John Brough admits they are enduring tough times, but is convinced he can turn their fortunes around ahead of the home clash with Paulton Rovers.

The Millers have not won since beating Paulton on December 5 – a run that has seen them drop to 17th.

Coupled with dwindling gates, Brough admits it has been an arduous period at Eynsham Park, but is committed to the cause.

“It’s been tough for everyone at the club,” he said. “It seems that everything is going against us.

“We’ve had to reduce the size of the squad due to budget cuts, and I’ve had to work harder than ever before.

“I am non-stop on the phone trying to improve the team and we are working on different things in training, but for some reason, it just hasn’t materialised this year.”

Despite the poor run, however, Brough remains upbeat.

“We have performed well in the last two games,” he said. “The Salisbury performance was excellent, and at Cirencester, I felt we were the better side, but just couldn’t finish off good moves. We are certainly competing.

“We need to try and string a few results together between now and the end of the season.

“I’ve moved a couple of lads up from the reserves, and they haven’t let me down. There is plenty of talent in there.”

Sam Mattock returns against Paulton, while young striker Ben Green retains his place after scoring on his debut in midweek.

Kidlington, fresh from their Oxfordshire Senior Cup quarter-final victory against Thame United on Wednesday, entertain Shortwood United.

The Greens won 3-1 after extra-time thanks to goals from Anaclet Odhiambo Declan Benjamin and Harry Whitehead.

For tomorrow’s game, Kidlington have Lewis Gabbidon and James Organ back in the squad after injury.

Thame United have signed forward Liam Tack, from Egham Town, who goes straight into the squad for the East Division match at Hartley Wintney.

Banbury United will look to return to winning ways when they entertain Basingstoke Town in the Premier Division

Puritans boss Mike Ford cut a frustrated figure after they were pegged back in the 92nd minute at Redditch United in a midweek game he believes they should have won.

Despite the 2-2 draw, Banbury to seventh in the table after a run of three wins and a draw in their last five games.

“Since New Year’s Day, we’ve done OK, so we’re not in a bad run of form going into Saturday,” Ford said.

“But I don’t want us to be a nearly team.

“At the moment, I think we are a nearly team, but I think we are getting better all the time.”

Ford said: “We didn’t start very well at Redditch, but once we started playing, they couldn’t get near us and we got into a 2-1 lead and in control of the game.

“But I was not happy with the equaliser, conceding from a goal-kick was very disappointing. I felt we threw two points away, and I was a very frustrated manager.”

Ford has named an unchanged squad for their match against Basingstoke.

TOMORROW’S LINE-UPS

Banbury Utd (v Basingstoke Tn, home): from Harding, Ngathe, Hawtin, Nash, Carnell, Wise, Bradbury, Sandy, Johnson, McDonagh, Self, Finch, Winters, Bryan, Macdonald, Heapy.

Didcot Tn (v Bristol Manor Farm, home): from Bedwell, Elkins, Young, Learoyd, Alexis, Barcelos, Pin, Agyakwa, Murphy, Reid, Ballard, Woodley, Cattell, Barder, McNeill, Jeacock, Hayden.

North Leigh (v Paulton Rov, home): from Griffiths, Thompson, Lymn, Hopkins, Simpson, Keightley, Paddock, R James, Sheehan, Seacole, Carroll, Green, Cook, Barney, McGlynn, Grabe, D James, Mattock.

Kidlington (v Shortwood Utd, home): from Warrell, E Odhiambo, Janes, Franklin, Brown, Castle, Gabbidon, Coyle, Benjamin, Osborn-Ricketts, Browne, A Odhiambo, Williams, Bell, Quainton, Whitehead, McMahon, Organ.

Thame Utd (v Hartley Wintney, away): from Hill, Murray, Lynn, Smyth, Davies, Sturgess, Connell, Goss, Morris, Johnston, Gledhill, Evans, Harrison, Ricketts, Gray, D West, Tack.