North Leigh manager Mark Gee has warned his side to expect a scrap as they entertain struggling Wantage Town in Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West tomorrow.

Although the visitors have won just once in 11 games, Gee’s men have suffered a slump of their own after four defeats from their last five matches, with much at stake for both sides.

“We want to win, but Wantage won’t want to lose,” said Gee.

“At this time of year teams are going to drop points.

“It’s the business end of the season and sides at both ends of the table are scrapping for points.”

North Leigh hope to complete the signing of defender Ben Brown from Premier Division Cirencester Town, but they could be set to lose winger Michael Hopkins after receiving an approach from Banbury United.

Gee said: “We don’t want him to go, but he’s entitled to speak to Banbury at any time.

“If a player has the desire to go, there’s no point keeping him for the full seven-day period.”

Wantage have also been active in the transfer market this week and are hopeful of securing striker Mark Francis from Didcot Town in time for tomorrow’s clash.

The former Swindon Town youngster only signed for the Railwaymen last September, but has found his opportunities limited.

“He’s a good player, but I think maybe he’s lost his way slightly,” said Wantage boss Stuart Cattell.

“He’s got a very good pedigree but sometimes it just doesn’t work out at a club and maybe a new environment is needed.

“I think he would do very well for us.”

Striker Sam Collier misses out due to suspension, while the Alfredians are also without the unavailable Carl Evans.

Banbury United boss Mike Ford believes stability has been the key to his side’s incredible form of late.

The Puritans travel to Bishops Cleeve tomorrow looking for a sixth straight league win and again Ford has a full-strength squad to choose from.

“That’s been a big part of our success,” said Ford.

“Everyone wants to be involved and we’ve won 12 of our last 16 now.

“We’ve just got to try and keep this form going between now and the end of the season.”

Didcot Town have brought in a trio of new faces ahead of their trip to Marlow.

Former Oxford United scholar James Keeble has been added to the Railwaymen’s midfield, with defenders Harry Beer and Ryan Barney also signing from Oxford City Nomads and Old Woodstock Town respectively.

Manager Andy Ballard said: “We’ve got a lot of games between now and the end of the season and adding some more strength to the squad will help us continue to pick up points and maintain our form during a busy period.

“They’ve all got good experience at a decent level and having that available to us is going to prove invaluable.”

TOMORROW’S SQUADS

North Leigh (v Wantage Tn, home): from Foster, Hole, Elkins, Westlake, M Williams, Osborne-Ricketts, Turk, McNish, Davies, Else, Cook, White, L Williams, Seacole, Brown.

Wantage Tn (v North Leigh, away): from Cavanagh, Whitehead, Elliott, Cattell, Carbon, Thorne, Glover, Clark, Hulbert-Thomas, Ferris, Johns, Amadeu, Kalakoutis, McNeil, Doyle, Powell, Coleman, Francis.

Banbury Utd (v Bishops Cleeve, away): from Harding, White, Welch-Hayes, Steedman, Martin, Wise, Westbrook, Gunn, Stanbridge, Browne, Nash, Bell, Johnson, Howards, McEachran, Blackstock, Barcelos.

Didcot Tn (v Marlow, away): from Bedwell, Learoyd, Carnell, Longford, Ballard, Janes, Edney, Organ, Woodley, Dutton-Black, Powell, Collins, Self, Thompson, Gannon, Reid, Woodhouse, Keeble, Beer, Barney.