Banbury's hopes of a third successive place in the first-round proper was not to be on Saturday afternoon with Bracknell Town having other ideas, a 2-1 defeat for the Puritans who exited the FA Cup.

The hosts from the off had their eye on the win a third-minute corner was defended and cleared, and just two minutes later an early warning sign for Banbury with a shot that was fired over the top.

Straight away Jay Williams drove forward and played the ball to Giorgio Rasulo but his shot was blocked. It was like watching table tennis with the ball going from one end to the other.

The hosts made their intentions known as early as the ninth minute taking the lead direct from an in swinging corner, Max Herbert the scorer.

Jak Hickman was close to grabbing an equaliser in the 11th minute after breaking down the right Town’s keeper Michael Eacott fumbled the ball with the second effort well off target.
Hickman was in the thick of things again laying the ball to Alex Babos whose shot was blocked.
Callum Reilly made an early exit after picking up an injury to be replaced by debut man Slavi Spasov in the 17th minute.

Bracknell went close to a second goal with the ball being cleared off the line from another corner, a couple of minutes later and Rasulo fired a free kick from just outside the box well over.

Spasov show the Puritan faithful what he was made of with a shot point blank in the 29th minute somehow being saved by Eacott.

A melee in the middle of the park with Bayliss, and Knight booked for the hosts and Jack Stevens for United.

Banbury found a way through in the 40th minute Spasov on his debut headed home for his first goal for the club much to the delight of the travelling faithful.

Hickman picked up an injury three minutes into added time and was replaced by Josh Dugmore.

At the break, it was all even, both sets of players needed the break to calm down, the hosts were a physical side and had done their homework well on United stopping them play the way they like to play.

Barely back out for the second half and Baylis headed home from Herbert's corner to put the host into the lead which they held onto.

From that point on it seemed that nothing was going to work for Banbury. Babos was next to have a chance, but his volley went just wide, Acquaye beat his man but over hit the ball and Spasov appeared to be pulled down in the box where appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Steven Hughes.

Josh Smile curled an effort over the top from the edge of the box with Stevens forcing Eacott into a good save. Rasulo with a couple of corners on either side of the park with Stevens again at the back post fired wide from the second corner.

Spasov was so close to the equaliser in the 75th minute but again Eacott made himself big in front of the sticks.

With the host raining their game Henry Landers came on to replace Babos on 82 minutes.
Meanwhile, Harding made a cracking save from substitute Joe Grant who found his way past three players.

Back to the other end of the pitch with everyone including Harding in the hosts’ half for a free kick on the edge of the box which was smashed into the wall, and it was to be the last chance for United to salvage the match.

Next up is a trip to Spennymoor Town on Saturday 22nd October in The Vanarama National League followed by another away match this time at King’s Lynn Town for a top-of-the-table clash on Tuesday 25th October before Banbury plays at home on Saturday 29th October taking on Kidderminster Harriers.

Banbury United: 11 Jack HARDING (GK), 2 Connor ROBERTS, 3 Sam BROWN, 4 Josh SMILE, 6 Jay WILLIAMS, 8 Giorgio RASULO (Capt), 14 Jack STEVENS, 11 Ben ACQUAYE, 12 Jak HICKMAN (16 Josh DUGMORE 45+3), 19 Alex BABOS (7 Henry LANDERS 82’), 20 Callum REILLY (9 Slavi SPASOV 16’) Unused Subs: 13 Ben TAYLOR (GK), 15 Ben RADCLIFFE

Attendance: 657