In a very entertaining and competitive encounter a draw was probably the correct result, although either club could quite easily have won the game. For Banbury, Stourbridge's Amblecote ground is always a difficult place to get any points but United worked very hard and the home side soon found out that it was going to be a hard afternoon's work for them.

After the initial opening play, the first chance fell to United in the 14th minute when, following good work by Giorgio Rasulo, last ditch tackles foiled both Jaanai Gordon and John Mills efforts in the same attack. When the ball was cleared downfield by Stourbridge, Alex Nicholls put Chay Tilt in on goal but Jack Harding did well to touch shot past the post. However, although the home side were raining in crosses, especially from the left, Banbury's defence was supreme in the way that it dealt with any threats and Harding never had another shot to save, and to be fair, this was also the case for the home custodian Charlie Price.

After the half-time break, Banbury surprised the Glassboys by taking the game to them, and they went close in the 47th minute when Gordon put Mills away. Price did well to block his first shot and then reacted well to thwart his follow-up to make a good double save. However, United took the lead in spectacular fashion in the 49th minute when Gordon again put Mills away and this time Price could do nothing to prevent Mills' fierce shot from crashing into the back of the net. Two minutes later, United should have gone further ahead when Gordon yet again won the ball and put Mills clear and the Banbury striker let fly from the edge of the box, only to see his brilliant shot come back off the upright into the path of Gordon who, despite being prostrate on the ground, despatched it into the net only to be unluckily given offside.

Stourbridge looked physically shaken at this juncture but to their credit they worked hard to get back into the game and they forced United back into long periods of defence, although Banbury still looked very dangerous on the break and again went close to extending their lead when the ever-dangerous Gordon found Rasulo in a good position but the midfielder's effort found the side-netting.

Stourbridge were now testing the Banbury defence, as United fought to hold on to all three points, but the Glassboys got their equaliser in the 76th minute when the impressive Alex Nicholls sent over a pin-point ball from the right which found Tilt unmarked on the left, and he let fly with a powerful drive which flew into the net to give them a deserved leveller. In their next attack, substitute Kieran Cook's first involvement was to strike the outside of Harding's left post.

One mention of the referee, this was probably the most competitive game that Banbury had played so far this season, nothing was given by either side, and it was so refreshing to see a referee control the game well without the use of one card of any colour. This was obviously helped by both sets of players only interested in playing football and their respected managers deserve huge credit for a good display of entertainment.

Stourbridge:- Charlie Price, Kristian Green, Jordaan Brown, Thomas Tonks, Jordan Williams (62 mins. Joshua Ezewele), Ashley Carter (captain), David Bellis, Levi Rowley (62 mins. Andre Landell), Aaron Lloyd (77 mins. Kieran Cook), Chay Tilt, Alex Nicholls.
Subs (not used): James Wren, Ryan Winwood.

Banbury United:- Jack Harding, Connor Roberts, Kynan Isaac, Jack Westbrook (captain), Charles Hawtin, Giorgio Rasulo, Claudio Dias, Amer Awadh (41 mins. Pablo Haysham), Lee Henderson, John Mills, Jaanai Gordon (62 mins. Mohammed Ahmed, 71 mins. Eddie Odhiambo).
Subs (not used): Gedeon Okito, Roger Ngaah Bosio.

Man of the Match, as selected by Puritans Radio – John Mills

Attendance – 1,073