Manager Mike Ford gave a debut start to Edmund Hottor in midfield and Amer Awadh returned to the starting XI. With Lee Henderson injured, skipper Ricky Johnson paired with Charlie Wise at centre back. Mills, Kaziboni and Finch were all on the bench not 100% fit.

Banbury started brightly and Giorgio Rasulo almost gave them the perfect start on five minutes when he cut in from the right and hit a shot across the home keeper that skimmed the far post.

The game soon developed into a combative battle with the home team’s target man Perry and Wise and Johnson enjoying an afternoon at close quarters. Edmund Hottor was unfortunate to be booked when accidental contact followed a hard but clean tackle. On 30 minutes Steve Diggin had a good chance from a corner but his goalbound shot struck Wise and was cleared. Five minutes later and Manny Agboola did very well to turn a shot round the post after the home team had taken a quick free kick to keep it 0-0 at the break.

Coalville started the second half stronger but it was Banbury who created the best early chance. Steve Diggin found himself in a lot of space on the right hand side of the area but chose to shoot rather than advance and his well struck shot was too close to the home keeper who parried it for a corner.

Kaziboni came on for Mark Bell but on the hour mark Banbury were reduced to 10 men when Hottor picked up a second yellow to receive his marching orders from referee Cooke. Nash came on for Awadh to shore up the midfield but Banbury were matching Coalville despite their numerical advantage and No 5 Freeman was lucky only to see yellow for a cynical foul on Kaziboni to prevent him running free which would have evened things up.

Agboola pulled off a great save from Mitchell but could do little to stop the home team taking the lead. A corner was cleared to Joe Doyle-Charles who thumped a volley into the bottom LH corner from 30 yards on 70 minutes.

Mills replaced Diggin whose industry was again sadly not reflected on the scoresheet. Kaziboni was bizzarely booked for “diving” when challenged and Coalville pushed for a second with Freeman’s looping header hitting the bar.

However Banbury showed great determination and were rewarded in the last minute of normal time. Left back Matt Taylor got to the by-line and crossed for Ricky Johnson who had been moved up front. His header fizzed passed Coton in the home team’s goal for the equaliser.

Banbury saw out the threats in injury time to pick up a deserved point and were applauded off the pitch by another good following of Puritan fans who appreciated the efforts of the team.

Coalville: 1. Matt Coton 2. Kalern Thomas 3. Scott McManus 4. Joe Doyle-Charles 5. Dean Freeman 6. Tom McGlinchey (Sub 15. Curtis Burrows ’71) 7. Alex Dean 8. Andrew Wright 9. Kairo Mitchell (Sub 12. Danny Jenno ’85) 10. Tim Berridge (Sub 17. Zayn Hakeen ’68) 11. Kyle Perry. Subs not used: 14 Danny Creaney 16. Jack Hallahan.

Banbury: 1. Emmanuel Agboola 3. Matt Taylor 5. Charlie Wise 7. Charlie Hawtin 8. Edmund Hottor 9. Ricky Johnson (C) 10. Steve Diggin (Sub 13. John Mills, ’73) 11. Mark Bell (Sub 16. Greg Kaziboni ’55) 12. Amer Awadh (Sub, 4. George Nash 73’) 15. Eddie Odhiambo 18. Giorgio Rasulo. Subs not used: 17. Harry Whitehead 20. Jack Finch

Attendance: 223