As the first developed, Banbury would soon be having the better of the game, certainly in terms of possession, but there were only two real chances of note for United in the first half. Firstly on 19 minutes Josie Clark would put Emily Parker through down the left but her shot from a narrow angle from 12 yards was well saved by the visiting goalkeeper and then in the 36th minute Debbie Andrews let fly from the edge of the City Belles penalty area down the right, her shot going just wide of the far post,

The second half followed a similar pattern with Banbury having the better of proceedings but struggling to penetrate a very sound and well organised defence. It was only in the last five minutes that Banbury were close to scoring a Parker shot from the edge of the penalty area was well held by the visiting custodian, then a Debbie Andrews shot from 12 yards was superbly saved by the goalkeeper diving at full stretch and finally a Josie Clark shot from ten yards was also well held but the Milton Keynes based City Belles side held out for a point.

Though not exactly overworked a special mention goes to stand-in goalkeeper Lynsey Burdock, deputising for the unavailable Katie McLean, who though not exactly overworked did everything she had to very competently, as a clean sheet would suggest.

Banbury United: Lynsey Burdock, Rachel Dunbar, Caitlin Timms, Leah Kinch, Charlotte Pitts, Sarah Rhind-O’Neil, Yazmin Holmes, Josie Clark, Emily Parker, Debbie Andrews, Rose Clark. Subs: Kailey Hardy, Jenny Hoggins, Heidi Malcom-Day, Katerina Poborska.