Banbury United welcome Stratford Town to the Spencer Stadium, powered by Egg on Tuesday evening after the original pre-Christmas fixture was postponed.

The Puritans return to home soil following Saturday’s postponement at Kettering Town, and will be eager to build on an impressive run of form.

Kelvin Langmead’s men have taken 16 points from the last 18 available, winning five consecutive matches to strengthen their push for the play-offs.

A series of postponements since the end of December has disrupted the fixture schedule, but it has done little to derail Banbury’s momentum — a run that continues to gather excitement around the club.
United head into the fixture in 10th place, but with as many as three games in hand on several of the sides above them — offering a significant opportunity to climb the table.

Tuesday evening’s clash marks the first of four matches in twelve days for Banbury, as a congested schedule commences with the fixture list catching up after earlier postponements in the season.

The Bards

The visitors make the short trip sitting 12th in the table, just three points adrift of Banbury, and still very much within touching distance of the play-off conversation.

Between late November and early January, Paul Davis’s side put together an impressive run of six consecutive victories, a spell that saw them surge up the table and establish themselves as genuine contenders in the upper half.

However, their form has dipped in recent weeks. Stratford have managed just one win in their last five matches and arrive on the back of three straight defeats, a run they will be eager to end on Tuesday evening.

Frontman Owen James remains their primary threat, having netted nine times so far this season. The striker will look to add to his tally and pose questions of Jack Harding in the Banbury goal as the Bards aim to rediscover their cutting edge.

Previous Meetings

Banbury boast a strong record against their local rivals, with five wins in their last seven meetings. The most notable a 5-0 win on Boxing Day 2019. Earlier in the season, a 3-0 win away in Warwickshire saw Langmead pick up his first win since being appointed as the club’s new manager.

Stratford last tasted derby success in 2018 as the two sides come into the contest hoping to claim three points and local bragging rights before Christmas.

With both teams firmly in the play-off hunt, Tuesday’s meeting sets up a competitive local derby under the lights at the Spencer Stadium, powered by Egg.

Match Preview written by Will Hutchinson.