This was a game that Larkhall began much the better of the two sides. After just 40 seconds Matt Thorne shot just wide from just outside the Banbury penalty area and Banbury continued under pressure in the early stages. Banbury though worked hard to get themselves into the game and as the half developed it soon became a more equal affair.

On 23 minutes Thorne again went close with a shot from the edge of the area, the ball going just wide. However, just a minute later Andy Gunn put a long ball through the middle for Ricky Johnson who ahead of his marker then nicked the ball past the advancing Kyle Phillips in the Larkhall goal to put United ahead.

Three minutes later and Banbury went close to making it 2-0 when Leam Howards showed good skill to flick the ball over a defender on the right hand side of the Larkhall penalty area only to see his thunderous shot from 10 yards smash against the crossbar before bouncing down and being cleared.

On 36 minutes Larkhall had an excellent chance to equalise but Dean Griffiths headed a cross from the right by Josh Egan wide when he really should have done better.

United’s half time advantage was though to be wiped out as early as the second minute of the second half as some less than impressive defending from United allowed Jamie Lyons to knock the ball into the net from close range.

Having equalised this seemed to boost the home side who would now look the better side. Thorne shot just inches over the bar from the edge of the penalty area on 52 minutes and on 65 minutes there was another good chance for Larkhall when a cross from Egan was headed over the bar by Griffiths.

Banbury had to work hard to get back into the game but went close on 67 minutes when a free-kick from Mark Bell brought out a good save from Phillips and then the following in Louis Joyce couldn’t put the ball into the net from a narrow angle. However, with just over a quarter of an hour to go United were back in front when Joyce got onto the end of a through ball who competently slotted the ball past the custodian from 12 yards.

On 75 minutes Bell was just inches wide with a shot from the edge of the penalty area but just three minutes later there was a good chance for Larkhall but Griffiths headed a corner from Matt Morris wide.

It was just looking as though United were in control and heading for three points but five minutes from time a deep cross was headed home by Lyons for his second goal of the game to make it 2-2.

Both sides could have won the game late on. On 90 minutes Larkhall’s Gio Wrona shot just over the bar from 20 yards but it would be Banbury who would go close twice in stoppage time. Firstly a corner from the right by Bell was headed against the bar by Johnson and then Zac McEachran put Joyce through on goal but unlike a few minutes earlier he was unable to beat the advancing custodian from 12 yards.

Larkhall Athletic: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Luke Scott (Matt Cunnington 86), Matt Thorne, Matt Ralph, Dan Jones, Josh Egan (Matt Morris 74), Joe Raynes (Gio Wrona 47), Brad Norris, Dean Griffiths, Jamie Lyons. Subs (not used): Jack Allward, Beau Taylor.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Callum White, Bradley Partner (Jon Steedman 66), Duran Martin, Bradley Cox (Darius Browne 59), Andy Gunn, Mark Bell, Jack McLaughlin, Ricky Johnson, Leam Howards (Louis Joyce 46), Zac McEachran. Subs (not used): Carl Tappin, Nic Evangelinos.

Attendance: 120