With a raft of injuries and suspensions Banbury could only manage to include just two players on the substitute bench, and one of them was a goalkeeper, but such was the attitude of the United squad, the work ethic and commitment shown was a credit to the players, and when hopefully the numbers will increase for this weekend, it will be difficult to see who will be unlucky to lose their place. Although one player who will be missing will be Henry Landers, who has been at the top of his game recently and turned in another great performance but his suspension starts from.

Banbury got off to a fast start and went a goal in front in the 11th minute when Giorgio Rasulo raced up the right, danced his way through the box and crossed into the middle where Jack Stevens fired home to put the Puritans into the lead.

Leamington’s early ploy was to rely on ‘keeper Ted Cann’s powerful kicking, and he was certainly capable of switching the play with his huge clearances into the Banbury danger area. Leamington’s best chance fell to Ollie Hulbert in the 32nd minute when he went racing through the middle but Ben Taylor, in the United goal for the injured Jack Harding, did well to save the one-on-one very well. However, just four minutes later, Jack Edwards equalised when he headed a free-kick from Devon Kelly-Evans without of Taylor’s reach and into the corner of the net. With the scores level, both sides seemed to ease off the pressure somewhat, as if they were awaiting new instructions during the half-time break.

As the second-half got under way, Banbury were again the first to react, and they regained the lead after 61 minutes when Jack Lane made a hash of a clearing header and his poor clearance fell into the path of Slavi Spasov, and the Bulgarian forward made no mistake when he took the ball on and slipped it under Cann to deservedly put the Puritans ahead. It was now down to end-to-end entertainment as the Brakes looked to earn a share of the points, and in the 79th minute, Dan Turner lashed a loose ball high into the net to level the scores.

Late on a penalty appeal was turned down when Turner seemingly brought down Ben Acquaye and the clearance lead to the softest of fouls in the middle of park against Banbury to manager Andy Whing’s frustration, which the referee saw fit to award a red card to him for.

A last minute goalmouth scramble saw Banbury clear a shot off the line to keep a share of the points.

Banbury United :- Ben Taylor, Sam Brown, Kelvin Langmead, Henry Landers, Giorgio Rasulo (captain), Jack Stevens, Ben Acquaye, Jak Hickman, Cody Johnson, Slavi Apasov (67 mins. Jaanai Gordon), Alex Babos. Sub (not used) Alfie Talbot.

Leamington :- Ted Cann, Dan Meredith, Louis Hall, Joe Clarke, 70 mins. Liam Cross), Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Devon Kelly-Evans, Sam Perry, Ollie Hulbert (70 mins. Kelsey Mooney), Jack Edwards, Dan Turner. Subs (not used) Ben Usher-Shipway, Junior English, Dan Moore.

Attendance - 701