Banbury United make the short trip to Warwickshire on Tuesday evening as they take on Stratford Town in the Southern League Premier Central, looking to put Saturday’s disappointing defeat behind them and return to winning ways.

The Puritans

Craig McKay’s side travel to Stratford following a 1-0 home defeat against local rivals Leamington on Saturday. The Puritans have struggled to find consistency in recent weeks, with their last five league outings producing just one victory, a 1-0 home success against Leighton Town. Draws against Bury Town and Bromsgrove Sporting have also been mixed with defeats to Worcester City, Bourne Town and Leamington. Banbury will be keen to improve their away form and take something from a difficult trip as they look to climb the league table.

McKay, speaking after Saturday’s defeat acknowledged the stretched squad Banbury are dealing with at the moment, but are hoping those out will be back in and around the squad in the near future.

The Bards

The Bards go into Tuesday’s encounter in considerably better form, having put together an impressive unbeaten run in the league. Their most recent outing saw them secure a 1-0 away victory against Bishop’s Stortford, following a 3-1 home win over Hitchin Town. Prior to that, Stratford recorded draws against Bromsgrove Sporting, Alvechurch and Peterborough Sports. Paul Davis’ side will be hoping to extend their run and will be looking to make home advantage count against their local rivals.

Previous Meetings

The sides last met at the TUGO Community Stadium in September, when Stratford edged a five-goal thriller to claim a 3-2 victory. Joel Anker gave Banbury an early lead before Zach McKenzie equalised. Kobe Hall and Jack Bearne then put the visitors in control, with Alex Prosser scoring a late consolation for the Puritans.

Banbury had enjoyed the better of previous encounters, winning 3-0 on their last visit to Stratford in August 2025. The two sides also played out goalless draws in February and March 2026, while their September 2024 meeting finished 1-1. The Puritans will therefore be hoping to put September's defeat right and return from Stratford with all three points.

Spectator information

For supporters travelling to Stratford Town for our Southern League Premier Central fixture, please take note of the following important information provided by our hosts.

Admission Prices -

Adults £14
Concessions (over 65) £10
Youth (12-17) with ID £5
U12s get in free this season as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

Both cash and card payments are accepted at the turnstiles.

Important Information for Under-16s
Stratford Town have introduced new admission rules following reports of anti-social behaviour outside the ground at recent fixtures.

All supporters under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult to gain entry, unless they are members of Stratford Town's Junior Bards scheme.
Supporters are asked to respect these arrangements and help ensure a safe and enjoyable evening for everyone.