Banbury Utd 2 (Sc Bridges 60, Gordon pen 71)
Halesowen 1 (Caskey 65)
Nicky Gordon’s second-half penalty gave Banbury United victory over high-flying Halesowen in the Premier Division.
But for Halesowen keeper Nick Bussey, Banbury would have had a handsome lead by the interval.
Banbury, who gave a debut to Oxford United scholar Richard Groves, should have taken an early lead when Scott Bridges saw his close-range effort turned round a post by Bussey.
Howard Forinton had a header saved at the foot of a post, and Ollie Stanbridge blasted a great chance over.
Bussey denied Forinton with an incredible save, and it wasn’t until the hour-mark that Banbury took the lead when Forinton headed Tommy Kinch’s free-kick to Scott Bridges, who shot home from ten yards.
Halesowen were level in the 65th minute when ex-Tottenham midfielder Darren Caskey fired a free-kick into the top corner.
But Banbury were back in front six minutes later. Stanbridge was brought down in the box, and Gordon rifled the penalty home.
Banbury Utd: Wheeler, Stringfellow, Kinch, Essex, Bennett, Groves, Travers, Sc Bridges (St Bridges 88), Forinton, Gordon, Stanbridge. Subs not used: Abassi, Bryan, Milner, Peppiatt.
Attendance: 245.
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