Banbury made a promising start to the game. In the 12th a Tom Winters cross from the left was mis-judged by Jordan Beeney in the Farnborough goal, the ball hitting the far post before coming out and being cleared.

In the 16th minute a shot from Nic Ciardini from a narrow angle on the left was knocked behind at the near post for a corner by Jack Harding. Five minutes later though and Farnborough were ahead when less than impressive defending allowed Perry Coles through on goal and he took the ball around Harding and slotted the ball into an empty net.

Banbury responded well to going behind though and in the 26th minute a Darren Pond shot from 15 yards was deflected by a defender on to the post and behind for a corner. That corner taken by Winters saw Luke Carnell’s header from 10 yards saved by Beeney.

On 38 minutes Coles was put through on goal down the left but Harding came out to narrow the angle and did well to block the shot. Two minutes later and a cross from the left by Winters saw the incoming Pond get to the ball 12 yards out but stretching he couldn’t keep his shot down and it went over the bar.

On the stroke of half time a cross from the left by Tom Bradbury saw Jefferson Louis collect the ball in the centre but his shot from 12 yards was saved by Beeney and seconds later Jack Finch’s effort went just wide.

In the 53rd minute a superb powerful run from Louis from the half way line took him to the edge of the Banbury penalty area down the right but his shot was well saved by Beeney. But three minutes later and United were level when a corner from the left was headed home from the edge of the six yard box by Luke Carnell.

Banbury went close to taking the lead just two minutes later when some excellent passing play ended with Charlie Hawtin’s low cross from the right being fired just over by Pond from 12 yards. However, a minute later and United were indeed in front when a cross from the left by Winters saw Conor McDonagh’s diving header at the far post hit the back of the net. But United continue to struggle to hold on to leads for long at the moment and 60 seconds later Farnborough were level at 2-2 when a low shot from Nic Ciardini from a narrow angle down the right somehow found its way past Harding and into the back of the net.

In what was turning into a very entertaining second half, Banbury would go in front on 67 minutes when a cross from the left by the impressive Winters was headed home at the far post by the incoming McDonagh.

Farnborough pushed forward in search of an equaliser and it was now end-to-end football with both sides looking like they might get the next goal. But it would be Farnborough who would find it on 77 minutes when good play ended with Coles firing the ball home from 15 yards to restore parity at 3-3.

Farnborough looked the more likely to find a winner in the final minutes of the game but there were no more goals so it is a replay at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium on Tuesday (and if it is as entertaining as this game today supporters will be in for a treat). The league game at Redditch scheduled for that evening will be re-arranged for later in the season.

Photo shows Luke Carnell heading home United's equaliser at Farnborough

Farnborough: Jordan Beeney, Josh Huggins, Keith Emmerson, Jack Barton, Adam Everitt, CJ Fearn, Jake Evans, Connor Calcut, Jamie Cureton, Perry Coles, Nic Cardini. Subs (not used): Kevin Lamadi, Elijah Anyan, David Soloman, Prett Cunningham, Aiden Upward.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Charlie Hawtin, Tom Bradbury, George Nash, Ricky Johnson, Luke Carnell, Jack Finch (Jack Self 80), Darren Pond, Jefferson Louis, Conor McDonagh (Leam Howards 83), Tom Winters. Subs (not used): Matt Peake-Pijnen, Jordy Ngathe, Charlie Wise.