Banbury got off to a good start, taking the lead in the 9th minute when Ravin Shamsi latched on to a long pass from the back, went down the right and centred for Morgan Roberts to slot home from inside the six-yard box. However, with Lee Henderson out injured, United's lack of a natural centre-half cost them in the 11th minute when a corner from the right was headed home by an unmarked Joshua Endall to give basement side Redditch an equaliser.

Just two minutes later, Banbury went close when Amer Awadh put Shamsi clear again, and he unleashed a powerful shot from the right which 'keeper Kieran Boucher did well to save at the far post. Redditch threw the form book to one side in the 24th minute when another corner, this time from the left, found Brandon Diau, and he headed home with ease to put The Reds in front. With the visitors having three players that were all 6' 6" tall, United were finding things difficult from set pieces, but luckily their approach play on the ground left Redditch floundering. Banbury's fast play looked as good as anything seen at home this season and it was only a matter of time before it paid dividends.

Three minutes after going behind, a good move from the back resulted in Morgan Roberts sending in a great cross from the left which was met by Shamsi, but again Boucher made a great save from Shamsi's volley to keep United out. Redditch could have gone further in front in the 38th minute, but Jack Harding saved from Tyreece Kennedy-Williams to preserve Redditch's single goal lead at the half-time break.

Banbury came out for the second half as if they had just been woken up, and soon dominated the play, and they equalised in the 55th minute. A handball in the penalty area by Luke Shearer gave United a penalty-kick and Shamsi made no mistake from the spot when he hit the ball to Boucher's left to register a hard-earned but well-deserved equaliser.

Banbury took the lead in the 63rd minute with another penalty. Kynan Isaac bulldozed his way into the area past three Redditch defenders and it took two more to stop him by bringing him down. John Mills smashed the spot-kick home to give United the lead.

The icing was put on the cake in the 76th minute when Craig Fasanmade beat two defenders before passing to Awadh, who curled the ball home from 20 yards to give Banbury a fully-deserved two-goal cushion. The biggest cheer of the afternoon though was sounded in the 85th minute when the long-injured team captain Ricky Johnson came on for his first appearance since early September.

Banbury United :- Jack Harding, Connor Roberts, Kynan Isaac, Jack Westbrook, Charles Hawtin, Giorgio Rasulo, Pablo Haysham, Amer Awadh (85 mins. Eddie Odhiambo), John Mills (85 mins. Ricky Johnson), Morgan Roberts (72 mins. Craig Fasanmade), Ravin Shamsi.
Sub not used: Ryan MacDonald, Charlie Barnett.

Redditch United :- Kieran Boucher, Tyreece Kennedy-Williams, Joshua Endall, Kobe Chong (75 mins. Rhys Hilton), Rudy Misambo, Benjamin Birch, Gratias Katega, Thomas Rankin, Brandon Diau, Luke Shearer, Ronnie Hendricks (75 mins. Jamie Lucas).
Subs not used: Adam Marusiak, Jaden Owusu-Nepaul, Ray Wilson.

Man of the Match, as chosen by Puritans Radio – Morgan Roberts

Attendance – 446