Banbury United could not hang on to an early lead on Saturday, but did enough to earn a 1-1 draw and areplay at home to Ryman League Premier opponents Tonbridge Angels tomorrow night.

With Tonbridge unbeaten at home and Banbury unbeaten away, a draw seemed inevitable.

And so it proved, as both sides battled to be in today's third qualifying round draw.

Banbury took the lead in the 12th minute from their third corner.

Ady Fuller sent the flag-kick over to Wayne Blossom who headed forward to Jon Gardner. He turned in the six-yard box and fired the ball home past Aaron Kerr to open the scoring.

Five minutes later, Tonbridge drew level when they attacked down the left.

Fraser Logan sent Jon Main away and he steadied himself before firing a fierce angled shot across the face of the goal and into the far top corner of the net.

Both sides were looking to break the deadlock, and in the 45th minute, Howard Forinton spurned a good chance to put Banbury into the lead.

Tommy Kinch found him with a deep cross from the left, but Forinton's attempted curling shot for the top corner was inches too high.

Immediately after the break, Tonbridge went close when Logan was unlucky to see his 20-yard effort crash against the bar, with Banbury keeper Alan Judge well beaten.

Banbury resisted strong pressure early in the second half, before nearly scoring in the 68th minute when Matt Hayward headed Fuller's corner just wide of a post with Kerr beaten.

Banbury went close again, when George Redknap saw his 25-yard effort beat Kerr, only to go just the wrong side of an upright.

There was still time for Tonbridge substitute Luke Piscina to miss an open goal after dummying Judge. At the other end, Tonbridge had Kerr to thank for keeping them in the cup, when he somehow managed to tip a Blossom header over the crossbar.

Banbury Utd: Judge, Pond, Kinch, Blossom, Hayward, Fuller, Bridges (Stanbridge 66), Redknap, Forinton (McSporran 72), Baird, Gardner. Subs. (not used) Sullivan, Barisic.

Attendance: 596.