The lads were fortunate enough this morning to play at the first team stadium for the first time. It was a lovely morning, the sun was shining and the pitch looked immaculate. With very little rain over the last week or so, the sprinklers were on to try and take some of the edge off the surface.
On the day of Prince Phillip's funeral a minutes silence was impeccably observed before kick off.

The match started quite slowly, with both teams feeling each other out a little. The sides were clearly evenly matched. The two forward players for Worcester were excellent, and were a real handful. Defensively we had to be alive early on to snuff out the threat.

We had the early chances, Fin stinging the keepers hands from just inside the area on the half volley. Either side of the keeper and surely we would of been 1 up. Then another long range effort from Jack fielded comfortably by the keeper. The Worcester keeper was excellent all game - a commanding presence and very assured handling.

Despite having the better of the opening 15 minutes, Banbury United found themselves a goal down after 18 minutes. The ever dangerous front two (number 9 and 6) combined nicely, with number 6 finishing well first time into the bottom corner.

There followed a poor 5-10 minutes for United. The team couldn't get hold of the ball and Worcester had the upper hand. There weren't any clear cut opportunities until Worcester were gifted the chance to go 2 up. The ball came in low from the right wing, and Lex under pressure could only hook the ball up high in the area, the ball falling perfectly for the number 6 to strike home, giving Myron no chance. 0-2.

We made a few changes, as although 2 down, we felt that offensively we could definitely get the better of the Worcester backline. Tyra coming on for George, Will for Toby, Lennon for Ollie E and Mick for Luke. Slowly but surely we started to regain some control of the game. Lennon had calmed things down in the centre a little, and Jack was dropping deeper allowing Tyra to use his pace on the last man.

on 32 minutes a good piece of break up play in midfield by Lennon and a smart through ball got Tyra racing through on call, he took it to his right and calmly rolled the ball into the far corner. A great finish, and game on! 1-2.

There were good chances at both ends before half time, a long range effort looked certain to go into the roof of the net, but Myron made a superb saving backtracking and tipping the ball over the bar at full stretch. At the other end Will produced a bit of magic in the corner of the box to beat his man before firing a shot at goal which was brilliantly saved by the Worcester keeper.

Half time 1-2 and work to do for the Banbury boys. The key to the team talk was to keep going, chances would come. We also wanted our defence to get tight to the big number 6 and not allowing him space to turn and create opportunities for the pacy number 9.

Ollie C had come on in defence alongside Aiden, and both of them started the second half in determined fashion not letting Worcester's strikers have the time on the ball they wanted. The team was also on the front foot, and creating chances. Finlay was getting the better of his marker, and on a number of occassions this led to efforts on goal. But once more the Worcester keeper was up to the job.

We were awarded a couple of free kicks within shooting range, but neither Tyra or Fin could trouble the keeper into any serious action.

Toby was reintroduced to the game 15 minutes into the second half, and he had an almost instant impact. He went on a jinking run down the right wing before delivering a right foot cross into the box, the ball evaded the defence and the keeper and flew into the roof of the net. Im sure he meant it ;) 2-2.

Having worked so hard to get back into the game - disaster struck in the 55th Minute. As the boys tried to build an attack from the back Myron hesitated with the ball at his feet for just a second too long, and the Worcester number 6 nipped in to rob him of the ball and tap into the empty net for his hat trick. 2-3.

There was still 15 minutes remaining, and it turned out that this was plenty of time for things to change. Firstly Banbury United were denied what appeared to be a stonewall penalty. Fin chased down a ball through, beating the keeper to the ball who had come out of his box. The keeper forced Fin wide, but Fin evaded his sliding tackle, then crossing the ball into the box where Will was shoved from behind as he attempted to put the ball into the empty net. Unbelievably the ref gave nothing.

The referee had been poor up until this point, and was not blowing for anything. He didn't have a control of the game, and unfortunately it was having a negative effect for both teams, on what was a really good game of football.

United kept pressing, and thought they had found a deserved equaliser only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Tyra ran in behind the defence, before turning and knocking the ball back to fin on the corner of the area, who drilled the ball into the far corner. The ref allowed the goal, but following a flag from the linesperson changed his mind, and instead awarded a freekick for offside against Tyra. The lads felt aggrieved and this led to the referee sin binning Jack for his protestations. Meaning for the remainder of the game we would have to play with 10 men.

Credit to the boys, despite the setbacks the team continued to push for a goal. George had come back on by this point as we threw caution to the wind to try and find a goal. A united corner was cleared to the edge of the box where George showed great technique to volley at goal, the Worcester keeper for the umpteenth time diving to his right to save brilliantly in the bottom corner.

In the last minute of the game Banbury United got the equaliser they deserved for their performance. Toby chased a ball down the right wing, that really he had no right to get to, he got himself to the ball first before pinging a great cross into the box. Tyra lept highest to head towards goal. The Worcester keep flying out of his goal to punch clear, instead connected with Tyra. A penalty awarded and the keeper carded.

Tyra stepped up himself to take the penalty. Despite missing in the cup a couple of weeks ago, he held his nerve well to slot into the bottom corner of the net. 3-3

A thoroughly entertaining game, against two very evenly matched teams.
United showed great character to come from behind twice, and shaded the game overall, but in the end we were delighted to get the draw having scored the late penalty.

Next weekend, another away game in Mickleover.

Banbury United U14s 3 West Worcester Youth U14s 3