Banbury United bring their Bank Holiday weekend to a close today as they travel to Leicestershire to face newly promoted Anstey Nomads at Cropston Road, with kick-off at 3pm.

Kelvin Langmead’s side will be hoping to return to winning ways after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Stourbridge, with the Puritans looking to end the busy weekend with three points on the road.

The Puritans

United come into today’s fixture after playing out a 1-1 draw against Stourbridge at the Spencer Stadium on Saturday.

The result leaves the Puritans 12th in the early Southern League Premier Central table after five games, with Banbury having picked up five points from their opening fixtures.

There was also a welcome return for Alex Prosser, who made his comeback from an injury setback and will provide another boost to Langmead’s squad as the season continues.

After a busy opening month, the Puritans will now look to round off the Bank Holiday weekend on a high as they make the trip to Cropston Road.

With Anstey enjoying a strong start to their first season at Step 3, Langmead’s side will know they face another competitive test but will be aiming to return to Oxfordshire with all three points.

The Nomads

Anstey Nomads are one of the new faces in the Southern League Premier Central this season after securing promotion from the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands.

Managed by former Leicester City goalkeeper Conrad Logan, the Leicestershire outfit enjoyed a remarkable campaign last season, winning the division to earn promotion to Step 3 for the first time.

The rise of the Nomads has been particularly impressive in recent years, with the club having won the United Counties League in 2023 before continuing their climb through the football pyramid. The Southern League describes Anstey as one of the highest-ranked village teams in English football.

Their first season at Step 3 has begun positively, with Anstey sitting ninth after recording two wins, two draws and one defeat from their opening five matches.

Their only defeat came on Friday evening, when they travelled to Peterborough Sports and fell to a 2-1 defeat. Luis Rose was on target for the Nomads, but goals from Ben Beresford and Leon Lobjoit secured all three points for the hosts.

Prior to that defeat, Anstey had remained unbeaten in their opening four league games, including victories over Leighton Town and Bromsgrove Sporting, alongside draws against Leiston and Leamington.

The Nomads have also attracted plenty of attention through their recruitment, with experienced former professionals including Martyn Waghorn and David Nugent having been involved with the club, adding considerable experience to a side making its debut at Step 3.

Previous Meetings

Today’s fixture will mark a new chapter between the two clubs, with Banbury United and Anstey Nomads having never previously met in a competitive fixture.

The first meeting therefore comes with both sides looking to make their mark, as the Puritans travel to one of the division’s newest Step 3 clubs.