Mark West says a depleted team is making it hard for his Thame United side as they rescued a 2-2 draw at struggling Abingdon United.
Man of the match Luke Ricketts scored in each half and his second, direct from a corner, salvaged a point in the final minute.
Thame, who are now win-less in five and remain seventh in the league, were favourites against an Abingdon side who have lost 12 of their 16 games at home.
But the hosts, who have brought in a number of new faces to boost their chances of avoiding relegation, ensured a depleted Thame did not take all three points.
West said: “They’ve signed a completely new team and I can see them dragging themselves up the league now.
“We’ve still got players out. The reserves who come in do a really good job but sometimes it’s not quite enough.
“When you’ve got 13 or 14 first team players, it really makes a big difference.”
West welcomes back two more first-choice players on Saturday as Thame travel to Wokingham & Embrook for a cup fixture (1.45pm KO).
United then host Oxford United on Wednesday night in the quarter-finals of the Oxford Senior Cup (7.45pm KO).
West is looking forward to facing the professional League Two outfit at what he hopes will be a packed-out ASM Stadium.
He said: “We’ll try and enjoy it and anything we get out of it is a bonus.”