ANDY Whing hopes Banbury United can make full use of a free midweek ahead of their FA Trophy clash this weekend.
The Puritans welcome Stowmarket Town, of the Isthmian League North Division, tomorrow afternoon.
Stowmarket play at a level one below Whing’s side, but will be a tricky opponent.
The Suffolk outfit sit fourth in their league, and have won their last three, without conceding a goal.
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Whing said: “Their record this season is incredible – they’re an up-and-coming club, and they’ll be full of confidence.
“We’ll have to be at the top of our game.
“I’m glad we’ve not had a Tuesday game this week because it’s been so relentless.
“We’ve been able to ease off a bit and it’s been nice to have a bit of a break.
“It looks like a fullish squad for the first time in a long time.”
Banbury’s schedule had seen them play on Tuesday and Saturday in the previous three weeks, prior to a rest period this week.
The club missed the chance to make the first round of the Emirates FA Cup, for the third year in a row, when they lost 2-1 at Bracknell Town earlier this season.
Whing said the exit from the FA Cup allows the Puritans to have a crack at the FA Trophy.
“The runs we’ve had in the FA Cup in recent years means the FA Trophy hasn’t been as high on the agenda,” he said.
“We’ve done well so far in the league and we’re all looking forward to this tie in the FA Trophy.”
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Banbury moved up to ninth in Vanarama National League North after a 4-0 win at Buxton last weekend, ending an eight-match winless run.
“It’s easy to say it’s been coming because the performances have been there,” said Whing.
“We kept believing, we knew a win like that was round the corner.
“We were ruthless and clinical, which is what we’ve been missing.”
Oxford City climbed to within a point of the play-off places in National League South after a 3-1 win at home to Dover Athletic on Tuesday night.
The Hoops welcome Plymouth Parkway in the FA Trophy, having already faced the Southern League Premier South side in the FA Cup third qualifying round.
Ross Jenkins’ side needed an extra-time replay win to get past Parkway last time out.
Jenkins said: “We’ve played them twice now, I feel bit for them a little bit travelling back up here but it’s a game of football, and we’ve got to do our job again.
“They’ll come here prepared, they’ll know a little bit about us now and we’ll know a little bit about them.”
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