Crusaders must try again on Tuesday

The weather was a complete contrast to last weeks wet and murky conditions. It was a perfect late autumn afternoon and the spectators were able to bask in the warm sunshine. Unfortunately, the game did not match up to the weather and a goalless draw was the predictable outcome. Let us hope that Tuesdays replay will serve up something more exciting, extra time and penalties if necessary is bound to produce a result in any case.
The visitors are near the top of the league and had a great 4-0 win at Totton last week so they were sure to provide some tough opposition, but we started well and had the much better of the play in the first quarter. Garyn Preen again looked lively down either wing and he had a hand in two early corners which came to nothing, whilst Mike Jones shot well over the bar with an early chance. A good through pass sent Stefan Brown away but Callum White hooked the ball behind for another unproductive corner, but Andy Gunn wasted a free-kick for the visitors from just outside the area, but Brown slipped and lost control in front of goal with the best chance so far and Banbury survived again.
Playing up the slope in the second half, we still found it difficult to break through, even when we brought on Dean Stow and Alan O’Brien to boost the attack, and James Rusby gave away a foul just outside the penalty area, but Gunn was again to benefit and Paul Strudley twice pulled off good saves, but we had a let-off when Louis Joyce broke clear, but lacked confidence and screwed the ball wide. In the closing minutes we gained several corners but the visitors somehow survived a frantic melee in front of goal to earn a replay.
Team; Strudley, Tyler, John, Rusby, Day, Whittingham,Preen, Jones( Stow ),Brown, Clark(O’Brien). Sub;Goodger, Draycott, Harrison.