After four league games without scoring, and realising only one point, United needed to show a more clinical attitude in front of goal than of late. As soon as the game got under way, United took the game by the scruff of its neck and went for the Stourbridge defence with immediate effect. New loan signing Luke Fairlamb made an instant impression on the wide left, and with both Ravin Shamsi and Greg Kaziboni attacking from midfield behind captain Ricky Johnson, Stourbridge soon realised that they had a game on their hands. Although Craig Fasanmade had been recalled by Oxford City, Banbury still had enough pace up front to give the Glassboys plenty to do at the back, and it was the home side that seemed to pose most of the problems with the front men were well served by United's deeper players in what looked a much more balanced side.

Though they were the better of the two sides, Banbury's first decent chance didn't arrive until the 27th minute when Shamsi shot from the right, which beat Stourbridge 'keeper Charlie Price, who was glad to see the ball go just the wrong side of the left post. From the resulting goal kick, Stourbridge attacked up the left and when Andre Brown broke free, Jack Harding made a great save, standing tall until Brown had shot, and making a great block just outside of the 6-yard box.

However, Banbury took a well-deserved lead in the 33rd minute when Giorgio Rasulo took the ball up the middle and played a beautiful pass out to Shamsi on the right. He moved inside, stepped past his defender and then poked the ball past the advancing Price to score from twelve yards. Within two minutes, with Stourbridge in some disarray, Shamsi then sent a cross over to the far post from the right, into the 6-yard area, and Johnson chested the ball down, straight into the arms of a grateful Price, when maybe it looked easier to score. Just before half-time, Johnson had another chance when put in by Rasulo but Price was quickly off his line to block his shot.

To their credit, Banbury started the second-half as they had finished the first, and looked to increase their lead. In the 51st minute they were awarded a free-kick, just outside the left corner of penalty area. Rasulo hit the kick over the wall and the ball came off the underside of the crossbar, down onto the right post and then bounced across the goal and away to safety. United rode their luck in the 55th minute when Stourbridge thought that they had scored from close in when Brown converted a cross but the effort was subsequently ruled out for an offside offence.

In the 71st minute, Banbury at last got their second goal when a cross-shot from Greg Kaziboni was deflected out of the reach of Price by Johnson, and crept just inside the far post to put a more realistic slant on the score-line. Stourbridge had most of the possession as they looked to get back in the game and they had a golden chance in the 93rd minute when they were awarded a dubious penalty. Harding, diving to his right, made a brilliant save from a well-hit penalty kick from substitute Anthony Dwyer to record his eighth penalty save of the season.

To the credit of everyone involved in this very competitive encounter, not even a yellow card was issued, just as in the season's earlier fixture, proving that a game can be tough without being aggressive or violent. A big pat-on-the-back is due to both managers and their teams.

This was Banbury's first league win against Stourbridge in eight attempts since January 2012 and the first time in seven seasons since 2008-09 that they had taken points from them in both matches.

Banbury United:- Jack Harding, Connor Roberts, Jake Walker, Jack Westbrook, Charles Hawtin, Giorgio Rasulo, Ricky Johnson, Claudio Dias (77 mins. Lee Henderson), Luke Fairlamb, Ravin Shamsi (72 mins. Amer Awadh), Greg Kaziboni (86 mins. Lewis Wilson).
Sub not used: Ryan MacDonald.

Stourbridge :- Charlie Price, Jordan Williams, Jordan Brown, Thomas Turton (74 mins. Thomas Tonks), Kristian Green, Ashley Carter (87 mins. Anthony Dwyer), Bradley Birch, Nathan Hayward, Andre Brown, Will Grocutt (74 mins. Andre Landell), Chay Tilt.
Subs not used: Joshua Ezewele, Kieran Morris

Bristol Street Hyundai Man of the Match as selected by Puritans Radio – Jake Walker

Attendance – 542

Photo: Ricky Johnson bundles in Banbury's second goal.