Banbury bowed out of this season’s FA Cup, and a possible tie at Burton Albion when Leo Sery scrambled the ball across the line in extra time at Clarence Park on Tuesday evening. Sery had scored St. Albans’ goal on Saturday when he came on as a substitute, so he was promoted to the starting line-up for the replay, a move which worked well for the Saints.

The hosts had terrific support from the 1800 plus attendance, and in a very close and hard fought tie, they just about deserved their victory on the night, but it was a terrific cup-tie which showed why this competition is quite easily the oldest and greatest Cup competition in the world, in any sport. Whilst obviously very disappointed at the end result, United’s squad can hold their heads high, and their attitude spoke realms about the way that Kelvin and Craig have got them performing in a way that makes one impatient for the next game.

Banbury were the first to get a shot in when Peter Abimbola saw his shot saved by home ‘keeper Magnus Norman, after being put through by Marcel Guzynski. Banbury’s pressure going forward surprised the Saints somewhat and United won a succession of corners around a quarter of an hour into the game, but nothing came of it and St. Albans defended well, as the crowd spurred them on. Jack Harding in the Puritan’s goal fielded the ball when he had to but the home pressure was hardly forthcoming and Banbury defended well. Harding had to be on his toes in the twenty third minute when he was called into serious action, but neither side really looked as though they were going to bother the scoreboard. As the game neared half-time, Abimbola went close with a shot that was a foot over the crossbar and St. Albans also went close with a minute to go before the break.

Two minutes after the break, Sery went close when he mis-kicked a good chance and United breathed again as the chance was wasted. Banbury then went close in the sixty second minute when another free kick saw Luke Stokoe send in a wicked cross into the danger area, and it took a couple of deflections as it went for a corner. Banbury had to be seriously alert through the second-half as the Saints looked pretty useful when they broke into attack. Again though it looked goal-less as the game neared ninety minutes, as extra time loomed

However, the all-important first strike came two minutes into extra time when Sery’s prod towards goal seemed to tae an age before trickling past Harding as it brushed he inside of the post to put St. Albans in charge.

Two minutes later, Stokoe saw yet another free kick go agonisingly wide s Banbury fought to even things up. Joel Anker went close in the one hundred and fifth minute. St Albans substitute Sam Smart was shown a straight red card for a terrible over-the-top tackle when Harding got to the ball a fraction before Smart, midway in the St Albans half as Harding was looking to move upfield.

With Banbury now looking desperate to get back on terms, they moved upfield en bloc and Jack Harding was encamped in the opposite goal area for a succession of corners but brilliant defending by the Saints blocked all sorts of shots from point blank range, including two from Harding, but to no avail, and St. Albans move into the First round proper.

With thanks to Barry Worsley

St. Albans City : Magnus Norman, Jack James, Lewis Page (105 mins. Kieran Gauthier), Michaerl Bostwick, Alex Dyer, Alex Wall (67 mins. Sam Smart), Zane Banton (captain), James Sweet, Troy Perez-Duah (78 mins. Tom Jennings), Haziz Kone (67 mins. Jasper Mather), Leo Sery (114 mins. Harrison Smith) Subs (not used) George Sippetts Nick Ralfe.

Banbury United :- Jack Harding, Keegan Bloom (114 minutes Nico Jones), Marcel Guzynski, Aaron McCreadie (106 mins. Alex Prosser), Yaw Ofosu (captain), Jsh Flanagan, Jonathan Lawson, Peter Abimbola (106 mins. Connor Ferguson), Reece Styche (75 mins. George Ball), Luke Stokoe (114 mins Harley Giles0, Joel Anker. Sub (not used) Nathan Whyman
Attendance – 1851