The late goal was cruel on United who had looked the better of the sides throughout most of the game. They had enough chances to have won the game but having failed to take any, as so often happens in football they paid the price!

Banbury began the game very well and dominated the early stages of the first half. In the 16th minute, Howard Forinton put in a good shot on the turn but the Bedford goalkeeper Jordan Rigby did well to push the ball away for a corner.

As the half developed it did become more even in play. In the 35th minute Andy Kemp had to come out of his goal and did well to deny Michael Built. A minute before half time a Ben Polk free-kick on the right was pumped into the Bedford penalty area and Dan Chilton’s header was tipped over the bar by the home keeper.

Banbury stepped up their performance in the second half. They totally dominated the first twenty minutes of this second period. Ricky Johnson had a long range effort palmed away for a corner by Rigby in the 50th minute. Howard Forinton was put through in the 63rd minute and had a one-on-one with the custodian but failed to beat him as he came out. Banbury had other half chances which were not taken but having withstood the pressure, Bedford then began to work themselves back into the game.

The last twenty minutes were much more even. Banbury still looked slightly the more likely to score, though Bedford were beginning to have their moments. Bedford’s Drew Roberts found himself in space on the edge of the area in the 67th minute but he screwed his shot wide and then Johnson blasted over the Bedford bar on 75 minutes when he should have done better. In the 82nd minute Josh Cole had a good run down the right and his cross found Ben Polk but Rigby made yet another good save to keep Bedford on level terms. Just a minute later Graham Clark shot from just outside the area but the ball went just wide of Kemp’s far post.

Into injury time, and it was looking like a 0-0 draw. However, up stepped Drew Roberts, the Premier Division top goalscorer, to take a free kick in a central position just outside the Banbury penalty area. The kick was superbly struck over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

With Redditch United picking up three points, United have dropped to fifth from bottom in the table, just one place above the bottom four relegation places. A win for Swindon Supermarine today who move up to fourth from bottom has also seen them close the gap on Banbury to just 2 points.

A few match photos
here

Bedford Town: Jordan Rigby, Paul Cooper, Seb Simpson, Jon Darby, Josh Beech, Ollie Thorne (Graham Clark 60), Gareth Price (Jermaine Ivy 68), Jamie Cole, James Hatch, Drew Roberts, Michael Built. Subs (not used): Tom Damon, Martin Danobregit, William Lowrenson.

Banbury United: Andy Kemp, Simeon Williams, Tommy Kinch, Liam Dolman (Ben Thackeray 16), Dan Chilton, Joe Coleman, Ryan Howell (Danny Edmond 80), Ricky Johnson, Howard Forinton (Josh Blake 72), Ben Polk. Subs (not used): Liam Richardson, Dior Angus.

Attendance: 336