ANDY Ballard is backing Ben Whitehead to be a success at Didcot Town this season after signing from Chippenham Town, writes Matthew Bruce.

The former Wantage Town hot-shot is due to make his competitive debut when the Railwaymen host Swindon Supermarine in their Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West opener on Saturday.

Town boss Ballard admitted it was a blow to lose last season’s top scorer Mark Janes to Banbury United just a fortnight before the start of the season, but believes Whitehead will prove an able replacement.

Ballard said: “Luckily enough, we’ve been able to bring in a player who scored 18 goals last season for Wantage and Chippenham and straight away you can see that he has been playing at a higher level.”

Whitehead will look to form a partnership up front with Ryan Brooks, signed from Kidlington, as well as rejoining his brother, Harry, signed from rivals Wantage Town.

At the back, Sam Elkins has returned from North Leigh, while Sam Barder has also joined from Wantage.

Barder scored the only goal as the Railwaymen wrapped up close season with a 1-0 win over Rushden to win the Dale Roberts Memorial Cup on Saturday.

Barder and Whitehead aren’t the only key players to have departed Wantage this summer, with Sam Collier, Josias Carbon and Gio Wrona also on their way out of Alfredian Park.

But player-manager Stuart Cattell believes that, alongside incoming coaches Tom Butler and Rob Hopkins, the side he has assembled will have a point to prove when they entertain Paulton Rovers in their season opener on Saturday.

“We’ve got the hardest job in local football,” Cattell said.

“We’ve got a small budget and lots of clubs close to us who are capable of paying more than we can.

“Because we can’t offer a lot of money to bring in big names we’ve got a squad of younger players with a bit of fire in their bellies.”

Striker Todd Hathaway has made an instant impact during pre-season after signing from Fairford Town, while Niall Hodgkins has also joined from Milton United.

But perhaps Cattell’s biggest coup is the signing of goalkeeper Connor Johns, brother of Wantage midfielder Jake, following his release by Swindon Town.

Cattell said: “He’s a top keeper, but we’re not sure how much longer we’ll have him with us, because he’s had a lot of Football League interest.”