With the Puritans on top of the table, the Banbury faithful were looking for a good result against a Hitchin side bottom but one in the table with a single point from their opening five games and having conceded nine goals in their last two. However, as so often is the case, Banbury, for all of their first-half dominance, couldn't find a way through a very resolute defence and their first attempt at goal arrived in the 45th minute when Anderson's shot was a little too high. Hitchin's first chance came two minutes into first-half injury time.

Perhaps realising that Banbury were not offering any great threat in front of goal, Hitchin came out with more confidence and intent in the second half and should have taken the lead in the 58th minute. Charlie Hawtin was adjudged to have brought down Leon Okuboyejo, but Jack Harding saved Jay Dowie's spot-kick. In the resulting melee to clear the ball, the referee gave Lee Henderson a straight red card for his challenge on Maximilian Ryan, which resulted in another penalty kick. This time Joshua Bickerstaff took the spot-kick, only to see Harding make another brilliant save, his third from the spot in two games.

On 73 minutes, it was ten men apiece as Ryan was given a second yellow card for his challenge on Claudio Dias, and this restored the balance of play. The game opened up as Banbury pushed forward again. They came closest to taking the lead in the 80th minute when John Mills got behind the visitors' defence only to see his cross-shot come back off the far post and into the hands of a grateful Horlock in the Hitchin goal. Mills went close again when he dragged a shot wide of the near post from a good position and then Haysham burst into the box but his effort was deflected wide with Horlock stranded.

Manager Mike Ford will be hoping that his attacking options are improved when Amer Awadh returns to the side and Ricky Johnson's lingering injury problems are resolved.

Banbury United:- Jack Harding, Connor Roberts, Jack Westbrook, Charles Hawtin, Giorgio Rasulo, Pablo Haysham, Claidio Dias (85 mins. Eddie Odhiamo), Lee Henderson, John Mills, Anderson Cayolla Villarroel (65 mins. Gedeon Okito), Jaanai Gordon (82 mins. Ricky Johnson).
Subs not used: Roger Ngaah Bosio, Denilson Silva.

Hitchin Town:- Charles Horlock, Jack Green, Layne Eadie, Jay Dowie, Daniel Webb, Lewis Ferrell, Maximillian Ryan, Lewis Barker, Brett Donnelly (11 mins. Alexander Anderson), Leon Okuboyejo, Joshua Bickerstaff.
Subs not used: Ciaran Gordon-Steam, Joseph Gauge, Marcus Crowther, Lusaed Kastrati.

Attendance – 405

Man of the Match, as selected by Match Sponsors John Nicholls – Jack Harding