In a match dominated by both defences, this was the fourth consecutive League game that Banbury had failed to score in, although, but for the heroics of home 'keeper Charles Horlock, that sequence would surely have been broken on performance and chances.

Banbury made their customary good start, with the Hitchin defence struggling to contain Craig Fasanmade up front, as he ran riot in the opening period of the game. He could have scored within 45 seconds of the opening whistle, when a Lewis Wilson free-kick from the right found him on the left, some eight yards from goal and Horlock did very well to charge down his effort, and the ball was hacked clear. In the 7th minute, Horlock again came to Hitchin's rescue to get enough on the ball to deflect it to one side, and again the ball was cleared by Ben Walster. Then in the 19th minute, Fasanmade actually got the ball in the net from yet another run which let him in the clear, but an assistant's flag ruled the effort out for offside. The 24th minute saw the best chance when Claudio Dias put Fasanmade clear with a great weighted pass down the middle, but Horlock stuck out a leg and made a fantastic save to deny the Banbury striker. Hitchin gradually got into the game, and shots from Walster, Ryan Smith and Lewis Barker were easily dealt with by Jack Harding, catching the efforts as Hitchin pushed forward. Although all of the best chances fell to United, it was probably the home side that had slightly more possession.

Banbury introduced Greg Kaziboni to the proceedings for the second-half, and his skill and craft gave Banbury the better of things after the interval. Two minutes into the half, Kaziboni worked the ball across the edge of the penalty area from right to left and passed to Giorgio Rasulo, who made a decent angle for himself before sending in a shot which Horlock parried before Jack Green cleared upfield. In the 53rd minute, United again went close when Amer Awadh was fouled (not for the first time in this match), and Rasulo sent in the free-kick which took a deflection off the wall, and just as the ball was about to go under the crossbar, Horlock again saved Town's day with a fantastic fingertipped save which sent it over for a corner.

With Banbury's defence looking unbeatable in a competitive game which was very entertaining, even without the goals, the next decent chance fell in the 77th minute, and again it was for Banbury. Ravin Shamsi sent in a cross from the left into the middle, but Ricky Johnson's diving header went wide, and was cleared. A tale of two defences, and a special mention has to be made of Hitchin's two full backs, Green and Walster, who looked very efficient throughout, although the player voted the man-of-the-match by the Hitchin sponsors, 'keeper Horlock was magnificent all afternoon.

Hitchin Town:- Charles Horlock, Jack Green, Ben Walster, Ryan Smith, Daniel Webb, Joshua Bickerstaff, Lewis Barker, Alex Marsh (66 mins. Giogo Freitas Gouveia), Stephen Cawley, Jacob Hutchinson, Layne Eadie.
Subs not used: Brett Donnelly, Bradley Bell, Kye Tearle, Jay Dowie

Banbury United:- Jack Harding, Connor Roberts, Jake Walker, Lewis Wilson (46 mins.Gregory Kaziboni), Charles Hawtin, Giorgio Rasulo, Ricky Johnson, Claudio Dias (82 mins. Jack Westbrook), Amer Awadh, Lee Henderson, Craig Fasanmade (60 mins. Ravin Shamsi).
Subs not used: Eddie Odhiambo, Roger Ngaah Bosio.

Attendance – 360