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REPORT: Didcot Town 1-1 Banbury United. Banbury Win 5-3 on Penalties.

REPORT: Didcot Town 1-1 Banbury United. Banbury Win 5-3 on Penalties.

Jamie Bowman5 Oct 2021 - 21:09
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Substitute Josh Hedges cancelled out Theo Rowe's earlier strike to send the tie to penalties.

A YOUTHFUL Didcot Town did themselves proud on Tuesday night as they took Southern Premier side Banbury United to penalties.

A first-half wonder strike from Banbury’s Theo Rowe gave them the lead. The pacey winger got on the inside of Sam Barder and after a spell of fancy footwork, whipped a shot into the top right corner. Rowe and Morgan Roberts on the opposite flank caused problems for Diddy for large parts of the evening, but besides the goal, George Gilmore & Joe Green were barely troubled.

Didcot did have their moments. Three minutes in Noah Alabi, fresh from his match-winning goal on Saturday, managed to escape his marker and launch an effort just wide of Taylor’s post. The first half was fairly quiet, not a lot of action from either side, but after the break, the game came to life.

Michael McKirnan had an effort sail just over the bar, he was set up after some lovely work by Joyce as the target man managed to pick out the midfielder in a crowded penalty area. Several more chances came Didcot's way soon after. Musvaburi came close with a diving header before Alabi went on a trademark run with his strike ending up not too far over.

But it was the introduction of Josh Hedges that changed things. Within minutes the play was aimed in his direction, with fancy footwork keeping the Banbury backline on their toes. It was on 74 minutes when he got Didcot level.

And what a way to do it.

The striker drifted into the area from the left, jinking in both directions before finding enough space to bend the ball into the top corner. It was the least the team deserved, with three changes from the weekend they put in a great shift and had the final ball been slightly better on a couple of occasions, Diddy may have gone on to find a winner.

Alas, the Challenge Cup journey ends at the First Round, but attention quickly turns to more cup action on Saturday, as Didcot host Frome Town in the FA Trophy.

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