The Bucks drew 1-1 with Banbury in a tough contest at the SEAH Stadium.

It was a game of few chances, with little to report on in the first half. Banbury were well organised and defended well, as the Bucks struggled to find a way through despite seeing more of the ball. The best chance of the first 45 came shortly before the break, when Matty Stenson did well to round the Puritans’ keeper, Jack Harding, before finding Ricardo Dinanga. But the Bucks attacker couldn’t find the net, as Nico Jones did well to get back and block the ball on the line. The sides went in goalless at the break.

It was a similar story in the second half, albeit with the Bucks creating one or two more chances. In fact, Banbury were indebted Harding for keeping them in the game with some top stops to keep the scores level. Dinanga and Remi Walker combined to create a chance for Kruszynski, but his low cross-shot was well dealt with by Harding. Moments later, Walker’s through ball found Stenson in the clear, but the Bucks’ top scorer couldn’t find a way past the Banbury stopper when one-on-one.

The game started to open up a little bit, and it was the visitors who would open the scoring in the 68th minute. The Bucks were caught out by Tai Fleming’s long ball through the centre that found George Ball, who did well to hold off Orrin Pendley and close in on Brandon Hall. But while the Bucks keeper made the initial block, the ball fell kindly for Ball, who tapped into an empty net.

But the Puritan’s lead didn’t last long, and the Bucks were level just three minutes later. Remi Walker whipped in a corner that Banbury didn’t deal with, and Stenson hooked in acrobatically at the far post to make it 1-1.

Kevin Wilkin’s men looked the more likely side in the final minutes, but while the Bucks huffed and puffed, they couldn’t find a way through Banbury’s well-drilled defence. And the Bucks finished with ten men after Kyle Storer picked up two late bookings in quick succession in the closing stages.

The point sees the Bucks stay 3rd in the table.