Both teams had their moments, but neither could find the decisive goal. The match began with Bedford applying early pressure, creating three quick-fire chances in the opening ten minutes. Banbury's backline, however, stood firm to keep the game level. Bedford almost opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Lobjoit attempted an Olimpico-style shot from a corner, but Harding was quick to react, tipping it over the bar.

Banbury found their rhythm as the half progressed. In the 30th minute, a corner whipped onto Forsyth's head forced a fantastic save from the Bedford keeper. However, the rebound fell kindly to Claudio Dias, who made no mistake, scoring his first goal since returning to the club to give Banbury a 1-0 lead.

The second half began with both sides pushing for the lead. Bedford responded quickly, and just minutes later, they equalized, Leon Lobjoit capitalising on a defensive lapse to level the score at 1-1. Bedford struck again, taking a 2-1 advantage in the 51st minute with a well-taken goal by Lewis Hilliard.

Banbury responded valiantly and found their equalizer through a corner in the 66th minute. Harry Reilly delivered a perfectly placed cross into the box, which Claudio Dias headed back across goal. Waiting in position, Gordon capitalized by bundling the ball into the bottom-right corner, reigniting Banbury’s hopes and putting them back in the game.

As the clock ticked down, Banbury piled on the pressure. Prosser came close again in the 86th minute, forcing the Bedford keeper into a save, and the rebound just evaded Yaw. Ferguson had a golden opportunity in the 88th minute, but his effort rolled agonisingly wide. In the dying moments of the game, the Bedford goalkeeper produced an unbelievable save in stoppage time to deny Banbury what would have been a dramatic winner.

Bedford Town :- Jameson Horlick, Joshua Mullins, Samuel Brown, Lewis Hilliard, Carl Mensah, Kieron Dawes (65 mins. Lewis Green), Huw Dawson, Elliot Simmons, Edward Panter (65 mins. Benjamin Baker), Leon Lobjoit, Ryan Blake (captain). Subs (not used): Edward Gyamfi, Sydney Ibie, Jack Davies

Banbury United :- Jack Harding, Harry Reilly, Gedeon Okito, Alex Prosser, Yaw Ofosu (captain), Tai Flemming, George Forsyth, Connor Stanley (82 mins. George Ball), Jaanai Gordon , Claudio Dias (75 mins. Connor Ferguson), Dan Jarvis, Subs (not used): Nico Jones, Archie Hollyhead, AJ George