Banbury had an early set-back when Wayne Blossom got injured making a tackle in the 7th minute. Recent centre-half signing Ishmael Thomas was though on the subs bench and able to take his place. Wayne was taken to hospital but fortunately reports are that nothing was broken.

Though Banbury competed well, Tamworth had the better of the opening to the game and went close to taking the lead in the 18th minute when a cross from the left saw Tom Ryan’s mis-kicked clearance loop up and look destined for the top of the net until Kwame Fordah in the Banbury goal tipped the ball onto the crossbar before it was hacked away by Tanasheh Abrahams.

However, five minutes later and Tamworth were in front when Andy Haworth beat Fordah with a low drive from a narrow angle from around 10 yards on the left hand side of the penalty area.

Unlike recent games, to their credit the proverbial floodgates did not this time open after Banbury had conceded. Banbury battled away and defended well and had their fair share of possession in the remainder of the half though they were unable to create any clear chances.

A minute before the interval, Tamworth should have made it 2-0 when a corner from the left found Ben Richardson-Everton just five yards out with a clear header but the effort was not well directed or powerful enough and Fordah was able to make the save.

Banbury showed promise at the start of the second half and in the first couple of minutes Adeyinka Talabi shot over from ten yards and then James Wren in the Tamworth goal had to be alert to come out and get to a through ball just ahead of Kynan Isaac. Seconds later though Howarth went close for the visitors when his shot from just inside the penalty area on the left went just inches wide of the far post.

Though Banbury competed well as the half developed they were unable to create clear chances. Banbury continued to defend well though and it was not until the 75th minute that Tamworth would create a further really good chance when Richard Baker crossed the ball from the left into the Banbury penalty area where the incoming Jessy Reindorf with just Fordah to beat from 12 yards saw his shot saved by the custodian’s legs.

Banbury pushed forward in search of an equaliser in the last ten minutes and this was their best spell of the game. Five minutes from time an Abrahams shot from 30 yards had to be punched away by Wren. In stoppage time, Banbury came closest to scoring than they had done all evening when a free kick from Conor Collins was floated into a packed Tamworth penalty area where Isaac did well to get on to the end of it but his header from around six yards went agonisingly just wide.

This was a much improved performance from United to recent games with them putting up a battling show against a strong Tamworth team that started with seven of the players that began their Conference game at FC Halifax on Saturday.

A few brief video highlights of the game are on the links below.

First Half Highlights

Second Half Highlights Part 1

Second Half Highlights Part 2

Banbury United: Kwame Fordah, Luke Cray (Melanius Mullarkey 46), Tanasheh Abrahams, Kynan Isaac, Wayne Blossom (Ishmael Thomas 11), Tom Ryan, Anderson Pinto, Conor Collins, Nic Evangelinos (Daniel Bevis 83),Anthony Obeng, Adeyinka Talabi. Sub (not used): Kyal McNulty.

Tamworth: James Wren, Jack Evans, Will Aimson, Jordan Keane, Jesse Reindorf (Darren Byfield 80), Ben Richards-Everton, Courtney Baker-Richardson (Kieran Fenton 89), Richard Baker, Andy Haworth, Andy Todd, Matt Barnes-Homer. Subs (not used) Cameron Belford, Dale Belford, Oliver Parks.

Attendance: 77