The Glassboys climbed to the top of the Premier Division Central league table after securing a hard earned point at Banbury that was enough for them to leapfrog Kettering. The visitors were grateful to their keeper James Wren who made a string of fine saves to keep the Oxfordshire hosts at bay, although Gary Hackett’s men did have opportunities of their own, more particularly in the second period.

For a good proportion of the contest though it was the home side who caught the eye. Busy and energetic all around the park and with good pace and movement up-front, they certainly caused Stourbridge some problems.

The Glassboys made two changes to their starting line-up with Aris Christophorou and Brad Birch replacing Darryl Westlake and Leon Broadhurst respectively, with the latter duo named amongst the substitutes.

There was a lively start to the proceedings with Banbury first to show in the 3rd minute. Amer Awadh took on Aaron Hayden down the left flank before passing inside to Ravi Shamsi just inside the box. Shamsi then played a clever back-heel into the run of Giorgio Rasulo, but he could only stab his effort into the near side-netting.

Stourbridge responded five minutes later with Aaron Forde providing a searching pass into Callum Powell in the left hand channel area. His low drive was spilled by home custodian Manny Agboola but Luke Benbow was thwarted by Harry Whitehead as he looked to follow in and the ball bounced back into the keeper’s arms.

In the 12th minute Christophorou fed the ball into Greg Mills and he turned inside and let fly with a 25-yard shot that wasn’t too far away but cleared the crossbar.

The game began to settle down after that bright opening, however Banbury threatened once more on 23 minutes. A long ball forward by Charlie Wise was taken down by Steve Diggin and he delivered in a cross from close to the right-hand by-line into the middle where Shamsi had a free header which he directed off-target.

In the 37th minute Shamsi whipped in a low inswinging free-kick from the right that just evaded the outstretched boot of Wise in the area before running out of play.

Two minutes later the home side should have taken the lead, but were denied initially by two good stops by Wren. Awadh split the Stour defence with a fine through pass to put Shamsi in. His low shot was blocked by the legs of Wren and the keeper recovered sufficiently to parry the follow up shot from Rasulo, but the ball ran to Diggin who ought really to have scored even though Paul McCone had got back on the goal-line, however the experienced former Brackley forward sliced his shot past the post.

A minute before the interval Stourbridge went close themselves following a stunning counter attack that came from a Banbury corner. The left-wing flag-kick was poked away by Stuart Pierpoint towards the edge of the box where Forde collected the ball and he then drove forward over the half-way line before finding Powell on his outside. Powell, in turn, rolled a pass into the path of Brad Birch, but he was closed down quickly and screwed his 20-yard angled shot the wrong side of the near post.

HT Banbury United 0 Stourbridge 0

Five minutes into the second-half Greg Kaziboni fed Shamsi on the right and he cut inside before curling a 20-yard shot past the far post.

Two minutes later Forde had a chance at the other end. The midfielder stole into the box to get on the end of a ball in from the left by Birch, however his glancing header drifted straight into the hands of Agboola.

Banbury quickly replied with Rasulo advancing forward and then slipping a pass into Shamsi on the right-hand side of the box, who had been played onside by Hayden, but his low shot was blocked by the legs of Wren at his near post.

Stourbridge introduced Westlake in place of Christophorou with 56 minutes gone and two minutes later the visitors went desperately close to taking the lead. Pierpoint played a free-kick into the feet of Powell on the right. He sent over a deep cross and Hayden got up to thump a header against Agboola’s right-hand upright and he then miscued the rebound wide as it bounced back his way.

Banbury then tested the visitors defence twice in quick succession. In the 60th minute Awadh played a square pass from the left channel area across to Kaziboni and his first-time shot from 18 yards drew a save from Wren away to his right. Three minutes later Shamsi combined with Kaziboni who rolled a pass into Diggin and his shot from around 12 yards out was partially saved by Wren who got a hand to the ball before Pierpoint behind him cleared it away.

Leon Broadhurst took over from Thompson-Brown after 63 minutes and three minutes later Forde played a one-two with Benbow before working room for a shot from 25 yards that bounced harmlessly wide. Stourbridge then made their third and final change on 69 minutes with Kaiman Anderson coming on for Powell.

The Puritans were back on the attack in the 70th minute with Shamsi picking up the ball in the centre-circle and dribbling forward and getting by Pierpoint rather too easily before cracking in a low 20-yard shot that Wren got down well to, parrying the ball wide for a corner.

With eight minutes remaining, persistence from Anderson and then Benbow enabled Forde to get away a shot that was pushed aside by Agboola away to his left and four minutes later the visitors might have snatched the points when a deep Pierpoint free-kick was headed back across the area by Hayden, however Benbow’s downwards header was too close to Agboola and the keeper was able to make the save as Stourbridge failed to score for the first time since the loss to Kettering Town in the FA Trophy at the end of October.

Whilst Gary Hackett’s men were unable to continue their winning streak in the league, a return of 10 points from four successive away league games should be considered to be a good achievement and sets the Glassboys up nicely as they gear up for the second half of their Premier Division Central campaign.

Team: Wren, Hayden, Christophorou, McCone, Pierpoint, Forde, Powell, Birch, Benbow, Thompson-Brown, Mills

Subs: Westlake (for Christophorou 56 mins), Broadhurst (for Thompson-Brown 63 mins), Anderson (for Powell 69 mins), Steele, Maher (not used)

Booked – McCone, Mills

Att: 313