Banbury had more possession in the first 40 minutes and played the ball about well but generally struggled to create clear chances. The exception was in the 19th minute when Charlie Wise set Callum White away down the right who then took the ball to the Bishops Cleeve bye-line before crossing into the centre but the incoming Duran Martin failed to connect properly with the ball from six yards out and though the effort was on target the lack of pace enabled Mark Wieczorek in the visitors’ goal to get down low to his left and push the ball away.

Bishops Cleeve though finished the first half well and this was their best spell of the half. They put Banbury under some pressure in the final five minutes with their best moment coming in the 41st minute when Billy Jones headed a Jack Horrell corner just over.

Banbury were though much improved at the start of the second half and dominated this period, taking the lead on 50 minutes when Mark Bell took a short corner on the right to Nicholas Kalakoutis who returned the ball to Bell who then crossed into the centre where Louis Joyce rose majestically at the six yard line to out-jump the Cleeve defence and head the ball home into the top corner of the net.

Bishops Cleeve did though respond well to going behind, looking for an equaliser. It did though look as if Banbury had just got control of the game back and looking relatively comfortable when Jordan Bryan ran in from the right wing and was then bundled over by Andy Gunn inside the penalty area. Shane Bumphreys converted the spot-kick sending Jack Harding the wrong way.

Six minutes from time a second yellow card for Ollie Stanbridge left United to play out the remainder of the game with a man disadvantage.

Bishops Cleeve were so close to winning the game in the first minute of second half stoppage time when Elliot Kennedy let fly from 25 yards, the ball beating Harding before smashing against the upright and coming out.

Overall this is a game that Banbury should have won but it is clear chances that usually win games and despite playing the ball around nicely at times and playing some decent football they didn’t really create enough of them to have done so but to have lost the game in stoppage time would have been harsh.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Callum White, Bradley Partner (Jacob Blackstock 76), Duran Martin, Charlie Wise, Ricky Johnson, Andy Gunn, Ollie Stanbridge, Louis Joyce (Darius Browne 69), Mark Bell, Nicholas Kalakoutis (Leam Howards 59). Subs (not used): None

Bishops Cleeve: Matt Wieczorek, Aaron Drake, Leroy Odiero, Jack Oldham, Jordan Stoddart, Jack Horrell, Jordan Bryan, Billy Jones (Harlie Price 63), Shane Bumphrey, Elliot Kennedy, Ed Major. Subs (not used): Jamie Goodwin, Eric Edge.

Attendance: 200