FOOTBALL: Play-off hopes now over, says Elkins (From The Oxford Times)

FOOTBALL: Play-off hopes now over, says Elkins

11:00am Friday 1st March 2013 in Football By Nick Farrant, Sports reporter specialising in Non League Football. Call me on 01865 425488

Didcot Town boss Gary Elkins has written off his side’s hopes of making the Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West play-offs.

He said last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Shortwood, followed by Tuesday night’s 2-1 loss at Yate had been pivotal.

“I think it’s an unrealistic challenge now,” said Elkins. “If we had won those two games who knows, but I would be happy with a top-ten finish.”

Elliott Osborne-Ricketts (banned) and Pablo Haysham (hamstring) miss out.

North Leigh manager Mark Gee is looking for a response after a shock 2-1 Oxfordshire Senior Cup defeat by Thame United, when they travel to Winchester City.

Gee did not use the absence of Conor McDonagh and Ryan Brooks as an excuse.

“We had enough to have beaten them,” said Gee. “We had 20 shots and scored one, They had three and scored twice, so fair play to Thame.”

North Leigh are without Kieron Sanders (away) and John Mills (hamstring), though McDonagh and Brooks return.

Abingdon United boss Richie Bourne wants his side to cut out the mistakes starting with the trip to Wimborne Town.

On Tuesday, poor marking saw them lose 2-1 at Swindon Supermarine.

Bourne said: “We were dreadful in the first half, but improved in the second half and equalised, only for a lapse to costs us.”

Kevin Halliday returns, but Steve Davis is unavailable.

Banbury United host Bedworth United in the Premier Division.

Tomorrow’s squads Didcot Tn (v Evesham Utd, home): from Belloli-Pereira, S Elkins, Carnell, Allaway, Stanley, Heapy, M Williams, Wray, M Janes, Meade, Hepburn, Taplin, Pereira, T Janes, Harris.

North Leigh (v Winchester City, away): from Warrell, Westlake, Caton, Clark, Franklin, Hole, Bowles, Alexis, Shepperd, Else, Walcott, McDonagh, Brooks, Turk, Organ.

Abingdon Utd (v Wimborne Tn, away): from Foster, Baker, Taplin, James, Thomas, Melledew, Nowell, Riccio, Woodley, Biddle, Davis, Evans, Christodolou, Halliday, Booker, Ross, Tucker.