"Bucks prepare for a tricky trip to the disciplined Puritans"

Match Date : April 12th, 2025 3:00 pm
Competition : Southern League Premier Central
Ground : Spencer Stadium
Kick Off : 15:00

The Bucks head to Oxfordshire this weekend to take on Banbury United.

Banbury cruised to the Southern League Premier Central title in 2021-22 under the leadership of Andy Whing, but the Puritans have struggled since Whing’s departure to Solihull in the summer of 2023. Relegation last year ended a two-year stay in the National League North, with the current campaign feeling like one of consolidation and rebuilding for the Oxfordshire club.

Now led by former Malmo assistant manager Simon Hollyhead, the 12th-place Puritans have been consistently mid-table all season long. But while Banbury’s results have been almost perfectly inconsistent (W13, D13, L12), they have consistently been difficult to beat. Hollyhead’s side have the division’s best defence having conceded just 36 goals from 38 games, four fewer than the next best back line, racking up 16 clean sheets in that time. However, that solidity has come at an attacking cost, with the Puritans only finding the net 34 times in the league this season – comfortably the lowest in the league and six fewer than the second-worst attack, bottom side Biggleswade. All that said, in their last two games Banbury have beaten Lowestoft 5-2 and lost to Leiston 3-0, which may suggest that the Puritans are moving away from their austere approach.

And in amongst the grit and grind, Banbury have still registered plenty of notable wins, and they have a particularly impressive record at home to the league’s top sides. The Puritans have picked up 18 points from a possible 27 in the nine games that they’ve played at Spencer Road against the other sides in the current top 10. Home wins over Kettering, Spalding, Bedford, Stamford and Leiston have been backed up with draws against Stratford, Harborough and Stourbridge. Indeed, of the promotion hopefuls it’s only Halesowen who have come back from Banbury with all three points.

Hollyhead moved to strengthen his squad on deadline day with the loan signing of Tyler Bruck. The young Solihull forward recently had a stint at the SEAH Stadium, but departed having not made a start. Another former Buck George Forsyth has been a regular in the Banbury midfield, while increasingly impressive young winger Connor Stanley is fast becoming the Puritans key man.

Remarkably, the Bucks have had a man sent off in each on the three previous occasions that we have faced Banbury. The Bucks won both games 2-1 during the 2022-23 campaign, but the sides couldn’t be separated when they met earlier this season at the SEAH Stadium – a cagey game that finished 1-1 with Kyle Storer receiving his marching orders late on.

Kevin Wilkin’s men are unbeaten in 12 overall and in four on the road, but the Bucks haven’t won away from home since beating Bedford 3-2 on 11 January. And the Bucks will need to be on their mettle if they are to crack a stubborn Banbury side this Saturday.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Please note that this fixture is segregated. Tickets can be bought online via the Banbury website. For more details, please read our matchday information.

Website: www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk

Ground Address: The Spencer Stadium, Station Approach, Banbury, OX16 5AB