In their matchday programme and general website comments, Gainsborough painted a picture of being very unlucky not to have won the game at Banbury, with no mention of Lee Henderson’s and Roger Ngaah Bosio’s post-hitting exploits in the first game. This replay was very similar to the first game with both sides putting 100% effort into the tie, which was always going to be a single goal outcome, as chances remained very few and far between.

As in the first game, United had the greater possession as both defences were basically untroubled, offering few chances as all either ‘keeper had to do was to field wayward crosses. Whilst chances were very rare, the game was still fairly entertaining as the midfield battle ensued, but again Banbury were the more dominant outfit. Although they had more to do, Gainsborough’s defence looked well in control, and both full backs, Sam Topliss and Jamie Green, did well to restrict United’s ability to get crosses into Ricky Johnson and Jaanai Gordon as the stalemate reached the half-time interval. The first shot of any sort came in the 36th minute when Topliss approached from the right, but his fierce shot flew well wide, causing Jack Harding no trouble whatsoever.

The all-important opening goal came just three minutes into the second-half when Trinity midfielder Kingsley James headed in a cross-shot from wide on the right to give the home side the lead. Gainsborough should have increased their lead in the 67th minute when Harding brought down Gavin Allott as the home number nine went round the stranded ‘keeper, but to Banbury’s relief, Harding got just a yellow card, and then made a brilliant stop when Allott took the resulting penalty, to keep the lead down to a single goal.

Banbury now pushed Trinity back onto almost permanent defending duties as they swarmed forward, looking for the equaliser, and in the 77th minute they thought they had got it when a shot came in from the right, hit the near post and then bounced off the home ‘keeper, and into the net, only for the assistant referee to come to Gainsborough’s rescue when he later said that Pablo Haysham mistimed his run and was caught just offside. United finished the game well on top, but could not turn their possession into goal chances.

Gainsborough Trinity :- Joe Green, Sam Topliss, Jamie Green, Harry Middleton, Joe Maguire, Nathan Hotte, Kingsley James, Simon Russell, Gavin Allott (80 mins. Shane Clarke), Brandon Horton, Curtis Morrison (80 mins. Ross Hannah).
Subs not used: Brodie Litchford, Tom Davie, Elliot Wilson, Liam King, Callum Fielding.

Banbury United :- Jack Harding, Connor Roberts, Gedeon Okito (65 mins. Pablo Haysham), Jack Westbrook, Charlie Hawtin, Giorgio Rasulo, Ricky Johnson (73 mins. Roger Ngaah Bosio), Claudio Dias (90 + 3 mins. Denilson Silva), Lee Henderson, John Mills, Jaanai Gordon.
Subs not used: Eddie Odhiambo, Charlie Barnett.

Attendance – 321

Man of the Match as selected by Puritans Radio – Connor Robertson