Arlesey started the better of the two sides, one shot was kicked off the line by a Banbury defender and another went just wide of the post but the half soon developed into a scrappy, niggly and unpleasant affair, devoid of any decent football which was anything but a good advert for Southern League Premier Division football.

In the 21st minute Adeyinka Talabi found himself in space just outside the penalty area but his shot was blasted well over the bar. This was the only half chance that Banbury created in the whole of the first half. The home side fared little better as the half wore on, with the composure of players on both sides being lost it was with some relief that the referee blew the whistle at half time with a full contingent of players still on the field!

Though the first half had been awful, the second period would turn out to be much more open and entertaining with both sides at last playing some football and creating some chances.

In the 48th minute a cross from the left by Banbury’s Adeyinka Talabi looked dangerous but Dominic Lawless failed to connect properly at the near post. A minute later Talabi blasted the ball high over the bar from a narrow angle. In the 56th minute a free-kick to Banbury in a central position a few yards out from the penalty area saw Kynan Isaac’s shot tipped onto the crossbar by Jack Bonham in the Arlesey goal, the ball then going over for a corner. However, Arlesey were also looking better going forward this half and just a minute later a superb strike from just outside the penalty area by former Puritan Joseph N’Guessan flew into the top left hand corner of the net to put the home side ahead.

Banbury responded well and were level just six minutes later when a cross from the right by Isaac fell to Talabi who fired the ball home from 10 yards. The equaliser gave Banbury much confidence and belief and they now began to have much the better of the game.

Just four minutes after drawing level, United were unlucky when a cross from Luke Cray on the right went to Talabi whose shot hit the inside of the post before the ball ran along the goal line and was cleared.

Though Banbury were in the ascendency, Arlesey still looked lively up front and in the 77th minute they broke quickly from a Banbury attack and with United short on numbers at the back, substitute Johnny McNamara found himself through on goal, and with just debutant goalkeeper Dean Snedker to beat, duly did so to make it 2-1 to the home side.

Banbury pushed forward in search of a second goal in the final 13 minutes but were unable to find a way through.

On their second half showing, Banbury were rather unfortunate to lose this game. The least said about the first 45 minutes of this game served up by the two teams the better!

Arlesey Town: Jack Bonham, Harold Joseph, Luke Abraham, Rohdell Gordon, Kevin M'bala, Andre Maltay, Joseph N'Guessan, James Hatch, Stuart Farrell, Hallelujah Basmel (Andrew Osei-Siribour 53), Martel Powell (Johnny McNamara 70). Subs (not used): Liam McGovern, Stefan Powell, Sam Wyer.

Banbury United: Dean Snedker, Luke Cray, John Mbamarah, Kynan Isaac, Wayne Blossom, Tom Ryan, Dominic Lawless (Aaron Morgan 83), Scott Bridges, Albi Skendi, Kyal McNulty (Tanasheh Abrahams 58), Adeyinka Talabi. Subs (not used): Marvin Martin, Anderson Pinto, Marcus Green.

Attendance: 83