The Banbury United starting eleven was intended to be the same as did sterling service at Cirencester but Luke Cray was taken ill just before kick-off so Darius Browne came into the side with Jacob Walcott taking over the defensive duties.

Banbury started brightly and there was an early chance for them in the sixth minute when a corner from the right taken by Ben Whitehead saw Tom Ryan get free from his marker but his header from the edge of the six yard box went over the bar.

In the 15th minute Simeon Maye was put through down the right by Calvin Dinsley who took the ball to the right hand edge of the Banbury penalty area before shooting straight at Leigh Bedwell.

Banbury were though still having the better of the game and went agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 22nd minute. Jordan Cullinane-Liburad slipped midway inside his own half and Darius Browne nipped in to take advantage and advanced towards the Redditch goal and though he was tackled on the edge of the penalty area, the ball then fell to Carl Tappin whose shot from 15 yards saw the visiting custodian just get his fingertips to the ball to tip it around the post.

The remainder of the half was rather uneventful with neither goalkeeper being unduly troubled in this period.

Banbury had certainly had the best two chances in the first half though Redditch had come more into the game as the half developed.

Redditch were much better at the start of the second half. Ashley Sammons had a glorious chance to score after just four minutes when he was put through on goal by a header from the half way line by Dinsley but though then lobbing the ball over Bedwell from the edge of the penalty area it also went over the bar.

Redditch would go close again in the 70th minute but Bedwell came to Banbury's rescue with a fine double save from Carline and then from the resultant left sided corner Leavi Oshungbure had a clear chance at the far post but in the proverbial acres of space shot inches over from six yards.

Redditch were now looking much more likelier to get a winning goal. In the 76th minute a cross from the right by-line by Jordan Jones was met by the incoming Leigh Phillips but the substitute managed to fire the ball over the bar from just four yards out.

In the 82nd minute Kyle Turner was put through in on goal down the left hand side but Banbury centre-half Ryan did well to get back and do enough to put Carline off and he scuffed his shot, enabling Bedwell to collect.

A minute into stoppage time and Redditch nearly won it when a fierce shot from a narrow angle just outside the penalty area on the left by Phillips saw Bedwell do well to push the ball over the bar for a corner to ensure Banbury shared the spoils.

Whilst Redditch will feel based on the number of chances that they had in the second half that they should have won this game, on the basis of the battling performance from Banbury it was a point that the Puritans deserved.

Video Highlights to follow

And with Hereford United’s results removed, Banbury would now be off the bottom of the table

Table with Hereford’s results removed, as they will be officially in due course, appears below:

Banbury United: Leigh Bedwell, Darius Browne (Joel Meade 56), Marvin Martin, Jack Westbrook, Carl Tappin, Tom Ryan, Jordan Green, Declan Hartigan, Leam Howards, Jacob Walcott, Ben Whitehead. Subs (not used): Luke Cray, Duran Martin, Lewis Strafford, Callum White.

Redditch United: Sam Hornby, Jordan Jones, Jordan Cullinane-Lburd, Liam Spink (Leigh Phillips 64), James Mutton, Simeon Maye (Leavi Oshungbure 19), Calvin Dinsley, Kyle Turner, Ashley Sammons (Joel Caines 90), George Carline. Subs (not used): David Bridgwater, Bradley Catlow.

Attendance: 313