MIKE Ford says Banbury United go into tomorrow’s Emirates FA Cup clash at Weymouth as underdogs – but he is relishing that status.

The Dorset side sit top of Premier Division South in the Evo-Stik South League.

And boss Ford reckons the fixture on the south coast is the toughest tie in the first qualifying round.

He said: “We have four leagues at our level, Weymouth are top of their league, so in theory they are the highest ranked team in the cup.

“But we’re going down there very confident and not fazed. It will be a good challenge.

“If you’re a footballer, you want to play in the big games, and I think this is one of the biggest games in the FA Cup in this round.

“I am hoping my players can show on a big occasion that they produce the goods.

“There is £6,000 at stake, so that adds a bit of pressure, but I think the pressure is all on them as they will be favourites.”

Banbury also remain unbeaten, and wrapped up a comprehensive 5-1 victory at North Leigh in the Southern League Cup in midweek.

Ford was delighted with that performance, particularly as Ricky Johnson returned from injury to score a hat-trick.

He said: “We went about our job well in midweek and produced a professional performance, hence the comprehensive victory.

“Ricky’s very important to us for a number of reasons, he’s a captain and a talisman.

“I’m delighted that he got a hat-trick and hoping he got through the game unscathed and will be fit for tomorrow.”

Didcot Town travel to Wingate & Finchley full of confidence after their midweek replay win against Aylesbury.

The Railwaymen advanced despite being reduced to ten men when Michael Alexis was sent off.

And manager Andy Ballard is hoping this is the start of another successful cup run.

He said: “We know Wingate will be a tough fixture, but we’re going into it off the back of two big wins, so our confidence will be high.

“We just need to remember the hard work and togetherness we have shown in our last two games, and if we can match that again tomorrow, I’m more than confident that our quality will give us a real chance of progressing.”

Ballard is able to select Aaron Woodley, who was not signed in time for the preliminary round, tomorrow.

He said: “That’s a real boost to us, because Aaron gives us another striking option.

“With Ollie Thomas coming back from holiday as well, we’re in pretty good shape.

“A good cup run is massive for any non-league club because we all know the financial return can be massive.

“But we certainly can’t look too far ahead as Wingate are a Premier Division side, and will have high hopes themselves.”

Wantage Town make the trip to fellow Uhlsport Hellenic League side Bishop’s Cleeve.

TOMORROW’S SQUADS

Banbury Utd (v Weymouth, away): from Goff, Hawtin Wise, Henderson, Ngathe, Finch, Gabbidon, Shamsi, Self, Diggin, Kaziboni, Bell, Johnson, Awadh, Macdonald, Baker, Whitehead, Browne.

Didcot Tn (v Wingate & Finchley, away): from Bedwell, Learoyd, Cattell, Carnell, Barder, Markham, McNeil, Hayden, McNish, M Woodley, A Woodley, Gardner, M Williams, L Williams, Thomas, Humphries.