KIDLINGTON are confident of signing a new goalkeeper in time for their crunch derby clash at Didcot Town tomorrow.

The sides meet in Division 1 Central of the Evo-Stik South League, needing a victory for very different reasons.

Kidlington are three points above the relegation zone, while Didcot remain in the play-offs but are on a four-match winless run.

The visitors head into the fixture without a goalkeeper after Sam Warrell broke his right leg in two places last weekend.

Kidlington have permission from South League officials to bring in an emergency signing and boss Julian McCalmon has already spoken to two possible candidates.

He said: “We’ve got another goalie who plays for the development side, but he has been out injured for six weeks.

“But we’ve been given special dispensation by the league to sign a new goalie, so hopefully we will make a decision.

“We’ve got options and we would like to thank the league for understanding our situation.

“There will be no excuses on Saturday.”

McCalmon added: “Every game is massive for us now.

“We’ve managed to get the right side of the line at the moment, but the hardest thing is going to be staying there.

“North Leigh have found some form and we know Aylesbury are quite capable of doing the same.

“We need to make sure we stay that side of the line and finish the season in the South League.”

Didcot conceded an injury-time equaliser against Kempston Rovers last weekend.

The Railwaymen remain three points inside the top five, but boss Andy Ballard is calling on his side to halt their poor run of results.

He said: “Tomorrow’s game is must-win for us really.

“If we have any hopes of finishing in the play-off places, we must get back to winning ways, but we’re going through a really tough patch at the moment.

“Kidlington are fighting for their lives, so they will also be desperate for the points, and with it being a derby, that’ll add something extra too.

“If we are going to finish fourth or fifth, I believe we will have to win all four of our remaining games.”

George Reid and Leigh Bedwell return, but Adam Learoyd misses out through suspension.

Thame United have got their play-off bid back on track and have a crunch encounter of their own at home to Berkhamsted.

Only goal difference seperates the sides, who are three points adrift of the top five.

Thame beat Aylesbury 4-1 last weekend, but boss Mark West believes his side face an uphill battle to make the play-offs.

He said: “The win last week has given us a sniff, but nothing’s changed really, and we still need to win every game.

“But for us to still be in with a shout with four games to go shows how far we’ve progressed as a club.

“I think it’s out of our hands really, but it will be nice to win the last four and see where that leaves us.”

North Leigh are still fighting for survival and will move off the bottom of the table with victory at Aylesbury.

The Millers are five points adrift of safety and joint manager Craig Dore is under no illusions about the importance of the fixture.

He said: “Make no mistake, tomorrow is crucial for us.

“We really have to win, and if we do, we have a chance.”

Harry Grant, who was sent off last week, has already been suspended for four matches, so now misses the rest of the season, while Ben Barrett (knee) is also ruled out.

Banbury United boss Mike Ford says last weekend’s win over King’s Lynn Town has given the club a lift.

The victory all-but secured the Puritans’ Premier Division Central status as they now sit 12 points above the bottom three with four games to go.

Ford was delighted with his team’s performance, particularly a clean sheet against the play-off chasers.

And the Banbury boss believes his side can now approach the final month of the campaign with renewed optimism, starting tomorrow when they travel to Leiston.

Ford, who names an unchanged squad, said: “Last weekend was very pleasing, it was an excellent performance and the lads were very focused.

“We had had a team meeting before that game and I’d asked them to set a points target.

“They didn’t want to do that, but rather just focus on each individual game, and their approach on Saturday was brilliant.”

Banbury have also reached the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final and the players are vying for a starting spot against Oxford City on April 30.

Ford said: “We will prepare well for our last four league games.

“We still have a lot to look forward to and players are playing for places in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final too.”

TOMORROW’S SQUADS

Banbury Utd (v Leiston, away): from Harding, Taylor, Nash, Wise, Hawtin, Richards, Johnson, Iaciofano, Kaziboni, Whitehead, Rasulo, Awadh, Henderson, Berry-Hargreaves, Shamsi, Odhiambo.

Didcot Tn (v Kidlington, home): from Bedwell, Barder, Carnell, McNeill, Learoyd, M Williams, Hayden, McNish, Hackett, Barcelos, Dennis, L Williams, Thomas, Gardner, Reid.

Thame Utd (v Berkhamsted, home): from Hill, Mepham, Lynn, Gledhill, Essex, Tack, Sturgess, Tutton, Goss, Ashworth, Martin, Jewell, West, Peake-Pijnen.

Kidlington (v Didcot Tn, away): from Castle, Quainton, Bernasconi, Franklin, Martin, Gabbidon, Willoughby, Osborne-Ricketts, Benjamin, Coyle, Tooke, Browne, Odhiambo, Jordan, Talboys.

North Leigh (v Aylesbury, away): from Cavanagh, Ngathe, Peart, Gunn, A Grant, Pinn, Seacole, Hunte, Landers, Singh, Alabi, Martei, Saunders, James.