A Jack Self goal right at the end of the second earned United a point in a game in which Merthyr dominated the first half and seemed very much in control throughout the second and on the way to three away points.

Merthyr looked to have gone ahead after just two minutes when a short goal kick by Jack Harding out to Andy Gunn saw him get the ball back but then try, under pressure, to beat the hassling Kayon Reffell on the edge of the six yard box, only to be caught out by the Merthyr forward who knocked the ball home. However, to most supporters surprise the eagle-eyed assistant referee apparently saw a tuck on Harding and the goal was disallowed.

Merthyr would go on to dominate the proceedings. Ian Traylor fired a low drive past the post from 25 yards, Kayne McLaggon cut inside to bring out a save from Harding and Jarrad Wright shot just wide from the edge of the Banbury penalty area.

It was thus no surprise when Merthyr took a deserved lead in the 28th minute. A cross from the left by Elliott Scotcher saw Wright out-jump the Banbury defence to head the ball home from 10 yards.

United continued to be out-played but did create one chance in the half, that came on 41 minutes when a cross from the right by James Fawke was headed over the bar by Mark Janes.

Banbury were better in the second half and certainly it was a more equal affair but they struggled to create decent opportunities and it looked as though Merthyr were going to comfortably take the three points back to South Wales.

There was little in the way of chances until the final ten minutes of the half. In the 80th minute Merthyr went close to doubling their advantage when Reffell wriggled his way through down the left with Harding only able to parry away his shot from a narrow angle though the custodian recovered to hack the ball away. Seconds later a low cross from the right by Scotcher went right across the six yard box but no Merthyr player could get a touch on the ball.

In the 83rd minute Zac McEachran went on a good run from just inside his own half to midway inside the Merthyr half before finding George Jeacock on the left hand edge of the penalty area with the Oxford United loanee firing just wide of the far post.

It looked as though Merthyr had done enough to ensure the three points would be on their way back to Wales but in the last minute Ricky Johnson, pushed up for the final few minutes, won a header midway inside the Merthyr half with the ball going to Jeacock out wide on the right who then played a neat one-two with McEachran before getting the better of Curtis McDonald and then crossing low into the centre where Jack Self coming in at the far post struck the ball into the back of the net much to the delight of the home supporters.

It was harsh on Merthyr to have to settle for a point but as they say whilst you are just a goal down, you always have a chance of getting something out of a game and credit to Banbury for not giving up.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Andy Gunn, Callum White, George Nash, James Fawke, Jack self, Mark Bell (Zac McEachran 46), Jack Westbrook (Marvin Martin 46), Ricky Johnson, Mark Janes, Conor McDonagh (George Jeacock 65). Subs (not used): Darius Browne, Adam Rimmer.

Merthyr Town: Glyn Garner, Ben Watkins, Scott Tancock, Ashley Evans, Curtis McDonald, Rhys Baggridge, Elliott Scotcher, Jarrad Wright, Kayne McLaggon Ryan Prosser 73), Keyon Reffell, Ian Traylor. Subs (not used): Gavin Williams, Curtis Jemmett-Hutson, Cameron Clarke.

Attendance: 306