Banbury Utd 1 (M Murphy 8 pen)

Hitchin 1 (Pringle 63)

BANBURY United extended their unbeaten run in the Premier Division to five games with a hard-earned draw at Spencer Stadium on Saturday.

The home side made a dream start when Andy Baird was flattened in the penalty area by Shane Hill in the eighth minute, and Matt Murphy despatched the spot-kick into the left-hand corner of the net, giving Canaries custodian Ricky Perks little chance.

Hitchin had a great chance to equalise when Banbury keeper Andy Wheeler handled a back pass.

While Banbury's rearguard argued with the referee, Hitchin took a quick free-kick but screwed it wide of the unprotected goal.

With the strong wind in Banbury's favour, the hosts had the upper hand, but the nearest they came to increasing their lead was Murphy's header from Ollie Stanbridge's cross was tipped round a post by Ricky Perks.

Banbury's defence was at full stretch for long periods in the second half as Hitchin used the strong wind to launch the ball forward.

But they were unlucky not to increase their lead when Wayne Bloosom headed Sammy Ibrahim's free-kick against the bar before Baird tapped in the rebound only for the referee to rule it out for a foul by Blossom.

Hitchin's equaliser came in the 63rd minute, substitute Richard Pringle firing a low volley into the far corner from 12 yards.

Banbury Utd: Wheeler, Travers (Feely 70), Kinch, Essex, Milner, Fuller, Stanbridge, Blossom, Murphy, Baird, Ibrahim (Gooderick 83). Subs not used: Beckett, Sambrook, McKay.

Attendance: 263