Banbury go through to the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2006 with a goal from substitute Arron Wickham with just under a quarter of an hour to go time earning their passage,

Loan players Aidan Hawtin and Josh Shama had both been given permission by Oxford United to play for Banbury and the side also saw the return of Tom Ryan from injury and Marvin Martin from suspension.

United began the game brightly having the better of the first quarter of an hour, the most notable moment being a corner from Hawtin being headed just wide by Marvin Martin.

United also went close on 24 minutes when Elias Katsoloudi released Shama whose low cross from the right into the six yard box agonisingly saw no Banbury player able to get a foot to the ball to knock it home. This though began a good spell for United and just four minutes later a long range effort from Katsoloudi was well saved by home custodian Steve Benbow low down to his left.

It was certainly not all one way traffic though and just before the interval Ed Major got onto the end of a long pass and then rounded Leigh Bedwell but fortunately for the Puritans he failed to get the ball into the net from a narrow angle.

The closest to a goal in the game to that point came five minutes into the second half when Darius Browne cut in from the right and let fly with a shot which smashed against the inside of the far post before coming back and being cleared. Banbury were now creating more chances than the home side.

United should certainly have gone ahead in the 58th minute when Arron Wickham was brought down inside the penalty area but having picked himself up to take the spot-kick himself the former Crawley Town and Aldershot Town man saw his shot saved by Benbow.

In the 72nd minute a good cross from the left by Martin found Shama coming in but remarkably from just five yards the Oxford United loanee managed to knock the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score.

However, the goal that United had been threatening throughout the second half finally arrived in the 76th minute when Jacob Walcott crossed low into the middle from the right with Wickham making up for his earlier penalty miss by smashing the ball home from ten yards.

Though it was never comfortable for Banbury, and Bishops Cleeve certainly had their moments, over the course of the 90 minutes it was a deserved victory which takes United into the Second Qualifying Round for the first time since 2006, the draw for which takes place on Monday morning.

Bishops Cleeve: Steve Benbow, Callum Preece (Craig Hopkins 87), Andy Parker, Mike Sholly (John Dodd 82), Nick Rhodes, Danny Sherry, James Bayliffe (Carl Griffiths 70), Harlie Price, Joe Tustain, James Vercesi, Ed Major. Sub (not used): Conor Sherry.

Banbury United: Leigh Bedwell, Luke Cray, Nkosi Mzungwana (Arron Wickham 46), Jack Westbrook, Tom Fishwick, Tom Ryan, Marvin Martin, Aidan Hawtin, Josh Shama, Elias Katsoloudi (Jacob Walcott 66), Darius Browne (Nic Evangelinos 76). Subs (not used): Carl Tappin, Leam Howards, Spencer Bradley, Josh Hill.