This was a game in which Banbury started the better of the two sides. In the 8th minute Adeyinka Talabi laid the ball back to Jordan Green 15 yards out whose shot was well saved by Nick Thompson in the Arlesey Town goal as he tipped the ball around the post for a corner. However, from the resultant right sided flag kick, taken by Hicham Abdellah, United took the lead when the ball fell to Jack Westbrook ten yards out who shot for goal, the ball hitting the inside of the post before crossing the line.

United continued to have the better of the game and in the 25th minute they doubled their advantage. Kynan Isaac went on a run down the left wing and though his cross in was a little too heavy and went over everyone, the ball was picked up by Abdellah wide on the right who put in an excellent low whipping cross to the centre where the incoming Carl Tappin knocked the ball home from close range.

United were now well on top. In the 29th minute Isaac, with his back to goal on the edge of the Arlesey penalty area, turned sharply and volleyed a shot which went just wide. Five minutes later Tom Ryan’s glancing header from an Isaac cross went wide of the goal.

Arlesey though began to work their way into the game in the last ten minutes of the half and put Banbury under some pressure for the first time in the game. In the 42nd minute there was an almighty scramble in the Banbury penalty area but fortunately for them no one could put the ball in the back of the net for Arlesey and it was eventually cleared.

Arlesey were much improved at the start of the second half. In the 48th minute it looked as though the home side had pulled a goal back but Carl Tappin was on hand to save the day for United and hack the ball off the goal line. Just a minute later Dean Gilbert headed just wide from a corner as Arlesey continued to press. Then in the 51st minute half time substitute Geoff Mitchell’s shot from the edge of the penalty area found its way into the back of the net to reduce Arlesey’s deficit to a single goal.

Having survived the next ten minutes, Banbury then began to work their way back into the game and it developed into a more even affair. In the 68th minute Abdellah let fly from a narrow angle on the right just outside the penalty area, his shot looked bound for the top of the net but Thompson did very well to acrobatically tip the ball over the bar for a corner.

The last ten minutes saw Arlesey push forward in numbers in search of an equaliser. This duly arrived four minutes from time when some less than impressive defending from United allowed Martell Powell to slot the ball home from six yards.

Whilst some credit must go to Arlesey for their second half comeback, it was a most disappointing result after having a two goal lead at the interval. To make matters worse, Frome Town’s win at Dunstable means United are now seven points behind the Somerset side who are currently one place above the drop zone.

Arlesey Town: Nick Thompson, Andre Maltay, Sam Willett, Louis Lee, Dean Gilbert, James Sage, Leon Lobjoit (George Ironton 76), Liam McGovern (Geoff Mitchell 46), Kim Forsythe (Stefan Bailey 80), Christian Tavernier, Martel Powell. Subs (mot used): Luke Abraham, Josh Mason.

Banbury United: Leigh Bedwell, Jacob Walcott, Marvin Martin, Jack Westbrook, Carl Tappin, Tom Ryan, Jordan Green, Declan Hartigan, Adeyinka Talabi (Shepherd Murombedzi 57), Kynan Isaac (Leam Howards 54), Hicham Abedellah. Subs (not used): Darius Browne, Luke Cray, Duran Martin.

Attendance: 146