To concede the only goal of the game with a penalty in the 87th minute, on the face of it, Banbury looked a bit unlucky as they went down to a late goal yet again, but Royston should have had this game won fairly easily in the first half. The fact that they didn't was testament to a fantastic defensive display by Banbury, spearheaded by captain Ricky Johnson, playing as a central defender, in front of Jack Harding, who had to be playing one of his best ever performances between the posts to deny the Crows, time and time again.

The home side should have done better with a free-kick in the first ten minutes, after Harding was penalised for time wasting, when the indirect free-kick was touched to Luke Warner-Eley, who carelessly blasted the ball high and wide. It was almost one-way traffic as Royston pushed forward continuously throughout the first-half, and United never had one attempt on goal, but Harding was unbeatable as both Brandon Adams and Josh Castiglione were thwarted by the Puritan's 'keeper, the first with a spectacular one-handed save, and the latter when he charged down the ball, to leave the score-line blank after the first 45 minutes.

The second-half was barely seven minutes old when Connor Roberts had to leave the field injured which severely hampered United's defensive ambitions, but in the 59th minute, and against the run of play, Jenson Wright tried a speculative shot from 20 yards which hit the crossbar, before bouncing to safety. Still the home side pushed forward, urged on by ex-Puritan Scott Bridges, who was at his usual impressive best, and Banbury's custodian Harding was easily the best player on the pitch as he made unbelievable saves from Bridges, Castiglione and two headers from Matthew Bateman. Then in the 81st minute and completely against the run of play, Banbury substitute Craig Fasanmade latched on to a long clearance and using his fierce pace, he raced clear, and placed the ball past the advancing Harry Smart, but unfortunately, a foot wide of the post.

With time running out, and Banbury's defensive efforts looking as though they had worked well, the referee adjudged that Bridges had been fouled in the area, and the home side secured an 87th winner when Bateman slotted the spot-kick home to give Royston a deserved win. Mention has to be made of Mike Ford and his coaching staff as this was the 23rd game on the trot that, through injury in the main, United had not been able to name an unchanged defensive line-up, which amplifies the fact that the loan system works so well.

Royston Town:- Harry Smart, Gus Scott-Morriss, Luke Warner-Eley (67 mins. James Brighton), Scott Bridges, Adam Murray (captain), Ben Martin, Spyros Mentis, Josh Castiglione, Brandon Adams (80 mins. Ryan Ingrey), Matthew Bateman, Claudio Ofosu (71 mins. Ed Asafu-Adjaye).
Subs not used: Daniel Green, Taylor Parr.

Banbury United:- Jack Harding, Connor Roberts (52 mins. Roger Ngaah Bosio), Jack Westbrook, Charles Hawtin, Giorgio Rasulo, Ricky Johnson (captain), Amer Awadh, John Mills (77 mins. Jordan Mills), Jenson Wright (60 mins. Craig Fasanmade), Ravin Shamsi, Jake Walker.
Sub not used: Eddie Odhiambo.

Attendance – 338