Banbury United will look to extend their impressive nine league game unbeaten run when they travel to face fourth-placed Quorn FC this weekend. With the hosts currently occupying a play-off spot, the trip poses yet another test of the Puritans’ recent surge in form as they aim to keep their momentum rolling.

The Puritans have enjoyed home comforts for the last seven weeks after a spate of postponements towards the end of December and into January. Langmead’s side last hit the road in late January, when they secured three points at then league leaders Spalding United.

The Reds left it late in their last league outing, a calm 96th-minute finish from a tight angle against Alvechurch extended the impressive run further, with Connor Ferguson also bagging his 10th league goal this season. In the week, it was defeat in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup for a much-changed Puritans side, bowing out on penalties after a 90-minute stalemate.

Unfortunately, Banbury could not escape the game unscathed, with recently returning skipper Yaw Ofosu having to come off after just 40 minutes.

Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leicestershire, Banbury sit eighth in the league table, four points off the play-offs, but with two games in hand over three teams immediately above them.

As well as goals at one end of the pitch, United have kept four clean sheets in their last five games, providing the platform for the side’s push towards the play-offs.

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The Methodists

Saturday’s hosts were promoted from the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands last season and currently sit fourth in the table. They are six points ahead of Banbury, although they have played three more games.

Ryan Beswick’s side are the league’s second-highest scorers, with his side netting 69 goals so far this season. Just over a quarter of those have come from prolific striker Zak Goodson, although he saw red in their last league outing.

At the other end of the pitch, Quorn have also conceded the most goals of any side in the top 16 of the division. It suggests that Langmead’s side could be faced with an open and attacking encounter where goals may be on show.

Quorn have lost just one of their last six league matches, most recently securing a hard-fought home victory against fellow play-off contenders Real Bedford.

The hosts will hope another win can move them closer to consolidating their play-off position. However, the Puritans know that three points would strengthen their own push in what promises to be another busy and important run of fixtures.

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Previous Meetings

The sides have only met once before, the reverse fixture last November, where Jonathan Lawson’s 90th-minute goal saw Banbury win 3–2.

Saturday marks Banbury’s first visit to Farley Way.

Match Preview written by Will Hutchinson.