Banbury United secured back-to-back home victories with a narrow win over Leighton Town, but despite dominating much of the first half and creating several opportunities to extend their lead, the Puritans were made to work hard to see out the three points.

United started brightly against the young Leighton side and quickly took control of proceedings. Levi Steele, restored to the starting line-up, won an early corner in the fourth minute before going close four minutes later. His header from an AJ George cross drifted just wide of the post, with visiting goalkeeper Ben Nightingale rooted to the spot.

Banbury continued to apply pressure and took the lead in the 16th minute. George delivered a cross from the right, which Ben Nash met at the far post. Nash showed great determination to force the ball home, despite colliding with the goalpost and the back of the net in the process.

The hosts remained on top, and Gus Sanches had two opportunities in the following ten minutes to increase the advantage. However, Banbury were unable to convert their chances, allowing Leighton to grow in confidence as the half progressed. Joel Anker and Alex Prosser both tested Nightingale with efforts late in the first half, but the goalkeeper kept the score at 1–0 heading into the interval.

Leighton returned after the break with greater intent, looking to apply territorial pressure in search of an equaliser. However, their approach initially created opportunities for Banbury on the counter-attack.

George went close four minutes into the second half, before Nightingale produced two excellent saves in the 51st minute. The goalkeeper first denied Sanches and then reacted quickly to keep out Steele’s follow-up header. Steele threatened again in the 58th minute, before Nash fired narrowly wide following some excellent work from George down the right.

Leighton had a good opportunity of their own shortly after the hour mark and began to put United under increasing pressure as the game wore on. Banbury found it more difficult to maintain their earlier dominance, and the visitors continued to search for an equaliser.

Steele came close on a couple more occasions as the match entered its closing stages, but United’s task became more difficult in the 83rd minute when Prosser was shown a straight red card following a challenge the referee deemed to be violent conduct. Banbury were reduced to ten men for the closing minutes, with Steele dropping into a centre-half role to provide defensive cover.

The Puritans held firm to secure the win, making it consecutive home victories by a single goal against the league’s bottom two sides, Stamford and Leighton Town.

United will now turn their attention to next Tuesday’s home fixture against Worcester City, currently third from bottom. Prosser will be unavailable following his dismissal, while Oran Ofosu is also set to be absent, leaving Banbury without their first-choice captain and centre-half options.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Aaron McCreadie, Finn Howell, Josh Smile, Alex Prosser (captain), Oran Jackson, AJ George, Ben Nash, Levi Steele, Joel Anker, Gus Sanches (Connor Ferguson, 67).

Substitutes not used: Josh Cavallo, Seb Kola, Michael Wakeling, Emil Lulchev.

Leighton Town: Ben Nightingale, Avan Jones, Tolu Ikuminiyu, Charlie Patterson (Josh Odell-Bature, 90), Luke Pyman (captain), Sam McClelland, Sam King (Kyal Williams, 84), Euan Warlow, Tyler Winters (Jack Sayell, 68), Stefan Vukoje (Tiago Cerqueira, 71), Kobe Chong (Marco Silvestri, 71).