BANBURY United boss Mike Ford is looking to tomorrow’s Buildbase FA Trophy first qualifying round tie at Swindon Supermarine as an opportunity to end a winless run of seven games.

The Puritans fell to a last-minute wonder-strike last weekend as they lost 1-0 at home to Royston in Premier Division Central of the Evo-Stik South League.

But Ford, whose side make the short trip to Wiltshire tomorrow, believes that a win would re-start their season.

He said: “You always like a good cup run as it gets people on board and excitement builds round on round.

“To be honest, we’re just looking to re-ignite our season though.

“ We were very unfortunate on Saturday and were a bit unlucky not to get anything from the game.

“Swindon will look at our recent form and think they have a good chance. I’d like to think it’s two evenly-matched teams with a point to prove and both will obviously want to progress.”

Lee Henderson and Amer Awadh should return from groin and ankle problems respectively, but Steve Diggin is still away.

Goalkeeper Manny Agboola, who made an excellent debut last weekend, keeps his place as Jack Harding recovers from a wrist injury.

Didcot Town manager Andy Ballard is looking to bounce back from two straight 4-3 defeats when they entertain Mangotsfield United.

The Railwaymen lost to Berkhamsted in midweek, and their boss says his side are enduring a tricky spell.

Ballard said: “We’re going through a tough run at the moment.

“We’ve stopped doing the things we’re good at and the squad is very low on confidence.

“I have full belief in the players and I know it’s only a matter of time before we put in a top performance. The lads just need to remember what they do well and be confident.”

Aaron Woodley and Matty Woodley miss out with knee injuries, while George Reid (hamstring) and Callum McNish (suspended) are also ruled out.

Thame United host Bristol Manor Farm, with boss Mark West eyeing a run in the competition.

He said: “The Trophy is an important competition.

“We’re not in a position where we’re going to win the league this season, and so a good run in the Trophy and the financial boost that comes with it is really key.”

Thame lost 3-1 last weekend, but West was happy with his team’s performance.

“We played OK,” he said. “We were just very unlucky with some of the decisions, but we will get the rub of the green some time too, so I’ve got no complaints.”

Dan West is set to return to the bench after a long-term pelvis injury, while Liam Tack is back from holiday.

West added: “Hopefully we can get through a couple of rounds until the Conference teams come in. That adds a little bit of interest, and hopefully we’ll dig in and get a result tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, North Leigh make the trip to Sutton Coldfield Town with Craig Dore desperate for a change of fortune.

The Millers have not won in seven games and are second bottom in Division 1 Central.

Against a side that are also struggling, joint boss Dore knows the magnitude of tomorrow’s match.

“It’s a must-win game really,” he said. “We need to stop the bad run, and get some points on the board.

“Once again we played well last weekend against Cambridge, but fell to a couple of wonder-strikes and an own goal.”

Horatio Hirst returns to the squad tomorrow, and Dore says an important period is coming up.

“If you look at our next four games, we’ve got three that we really should be looking to get something out of,” he said.

“I am still confident we can do that if we play to our full potential.”

TOMORROW’S SQUADS

Banbury Utd (v Swindon Supermarine, away): from Agboola, Hawtin, Martin, Nash, Whitehead, Wise, Kaziboni, Finch, Johnson, Mills, Rasulo, Browne, Self, Bell, Odhiambo, Henderson, Awadh.

Didcot Tn (v Mangotsfield Utd, home): from Bedwell, Barder, McNeill, Hayden, Carnell, Learoyd, Alexis, Murphy, Humphries, M Williams, L Williams, Gardner, Thomas, Ballard.

Thame Utd (v Bristol Manor Farm, home): from Hill, Mepham, Essex, Lynn, Scott, Sturgess, Martin, A Goss, Gledhill, Mealing, Evans, Ashworth, Jewell, Murray, L Goss, James, West, Tack.

North Leigh (v Sutton Coldfield, away): from Sanders, Linford-Pill, Brown, Gunn, Simms, Pinn, Tutton, Landers, Hirst, Seacole, James, Newman, McEachran, Saunders, Stevens, Alabi.