United would go behind in just the third minute when goalkeeper Jack Harding slipped when clearing the ball from the edge of the penalty area and hurting himself and unable to get up, the ball going out to Rogan McGeorge who fired the ball home from 30 yards into an empty net.

Harding was able to continue after treatment but Banbury initially struggled to get a foothold in the game but as the half developed it became a more equal affair.

However, in the 25th minute United went 2-0 down when a cross from the right was headed home from the edge of the six yard box by Ollie Snaith.

On 36 minutes United were back in the game when a Tom Winters cross from the left was picked up by Jefferson Louis on the edge of the six yard box at the far post a couple of yards in from the by-line who fired the ball into the centre where Tim Trebes was only able to parry the ball out to Jack Self who fired the ball home from six yards.

The first 15 minutes of the second half were uneventful but at this point Banbury began to have the better of proceedings and put St Ives under some pressure. In the 64th minute a cross from the left by Tom Winters saw Louis shoot from 15 yards with Trebes not having time to get down to the ball but successfully kicking the ball away to clear it.

Banbury continued to push forward in search of an equaliser but St Ives defended well when they had to and with time running out it looked as though the Puritans would be returning to Oxfordshire pointless but in the 88th minute Ricky Johnson flicked the ball on with his head to Conor McDonagh who through down the right inside the penalty area shot for goal from a narrow angle with it going through Trebes’ legs into the back of the net.

Remarkably, Banbury were so close to winning the game in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Louis let fly from the edge of the penalty area down the left, the ball striking the far post and coming out though it would have been very harsh on St Ives to have lost this game, over the 90 minutes a draw was probably a fair result.

St Ives Town: Tim Trebes, Miles Smith, Jordan Jarrold, Lewis Ferrell, Lloyd Groves, Rogan McGeorge, Ben Seymour-Shove (Ben Sawyer 84), Tom McGowan, Danny Kelly (Eugene Libertucci 73), Oliver Snaith, Phil Draycott. Sub (not used): Jamie Short.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Jordy Ngathe, Tom Bradbury, George Nash (Elliot Sandy 72), Ricky Johnson, Charlie Wise (Luke Carnell 48), Jack Self, Darren Pond (Conor McDonagh 58), Jefferson Louis, Jack Finch, Tom Winters. Subs (not used): Charlie Hawtin, Leam Howards.