BANBURY United manager Mike Ford expects more positive attacking play from his side as they look to end their recent slump at home to Stratford Town.

The Puritans have lost their last three matches in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division, failing to score in each of those.

However, Ford refused to lay the blame solely at the feet of his strikers.

“The forwards aren’t necessarily to blame,” he said.

“I think our biggest problem is that we’re trying to play too much football in our own half and we’re not really being positive enough going forward.

“It’s not a case of getting the ball forward more quickly, it’s just a case of making more forward passes.”

Ricky Johnson is the only injury doubt with a thigh problem.

Wantage Town player-manager Stuart Cattell says an improved performance is more important than the result as his side travel to AFC Totton in Division 1 South & West.

The home side are just one place and four points above the Alfredians in the table, but Cattell’s primary concern is improvement after back-to-back 5-1 defeats

“We can’t look at the teams above us until we sort our own performance out,” he said.

“As long as the display is improved, I’ll be happy.”

Stalwart centre-back Mark Burton’s chances of making a return from a hip injury are rated as 50-50, while long-term absentees Adam Doyle (knee), Jake Johns (groin) and Tai Hulbert-Thomas (hernia) remain sidelined.

The signs of recovery looked promising 20 minutes into Tuesday evening’s match at home to North Leigh, but with Wantage 1-0 ahead, the game was abandoned because of a frozen pitch.

It means further disruption to the Millers’ league schedule, following their Buildbase FA Trophy run.

But manager John Brough said he is not concerned as his side prepare to host Bideford.

“We have got a bit of a backlog building up,” said Brough.

“You expect that and I certainly wouldn’t swap what we’ve had just to have a few more league games under our belts.”

The Millers are without defenders Wayne Turk (suspended) and James Fawke (hamstring), while work commitments could rule striker Aaron Woodley out.

Didcot Town are without defender Jack Longford (knee) for their trip to Yate Town, while midfielder Jack Powell has signed for Abingdon United on a month-long loan.

The Railwaymen have won their last five matches in succession and player-manager Andy Ballard has backed his side to continue the momentum.

“We were very up and down in the early stages of the season, but I think the lads have set their levels now,” he said.

“They know what’s required to win games of football at this level – my job is just to make sure they keep performing to those levels.”

Kidlington welcome back Elliott Osborne-Ricketts from an ankle injury as they travel to Northwood in Division 1 Central.

Ryan Brooks and Henry Owen also return, but Jack Quainton, Ben Weedon, Ben Willoughby, Kristian Thomas and Charlie Wise are all injured and Michael Alexis is unavailable.

TOMORROW’S SQUADS

Banbury Utd (v Stratford Tn, home): from Harding, Gunn, White, Nash, Odhiambo, Westbrook, Martin, Bell, Browne, Self, McEachran, Johnson, Sambrook, Rimmer, Davies, Jeacock, McDonagh, Blackstock, Carnell, Humphreys.

Wantage Tn (v AFC Totton, away): from Cavanagh, Thompson, Kalakoutis, Cattell, McNeil, Francis, Elliott, Jones, Ferris, Powell, Butler, Broad, Halls, Scholes, Robinson, Glover, Brown, Sadler, Hathaway, Burton.

North Leigh (v Bideford, home): from Agboola, White, Sysum, Hopkins, Hole, Murphy, M Williams, L Williams, Gray, R James, D James, Seacole, M Woodley, Wrona, Thompson, Cook, A Woodley.

Didcot Tn (v Yate Tn, away): from Bedwell, Organ, Ballard, Collins, Keeble, Whitehead, Benjamin, Barder, Graham, Tanner, Lovegrove, Thomas, Janes, Barney, Elkins, Davis, Joyce, Thorne, McNish.

Kidlington (v Northwood, away): from Warrell, Tetek, Flanagan, Franklin, Owen, Castle, Gabbidon, Osborne-Ricketts, Brooks, E Odhiambo, A Odhiambo, Dunmall, Al-Hakam, Janes, Coyle.