James Wren returned in goal for the Glassboys and Darryl Westlake was also named in the starting eleven after Paul McCone had to be ruled out. This meant that Aris Christophorou switched to partner Stuart Pierpoint at the heart of the defence.

The visitors were expected to be difficult opponents as they had overcome a mixed start to the current campaign to enjoy a better run of late and the previous month had seen them contest a goal-less draw with the Glassboys at home before beating Kettering Town a few days later and so it proved as the Puritans pushed the hosts all the way and they were left to rue a couple of late chances in particular that might have earned them a share of the spoils.

The first-half was a tight and sometimes feisty affair. In the 3rd minute Robert Thompson-Brown sent in a free-kick from the left towards the Banbury box and Leon Broadhurst headed the ball on before Kaiman Anderson saw his header drift wide of Manny Agboola’s right-hand post. Five minutes later there was a flashpoint close to the Stourbridge bench when Ricky Johnson caught Jordaan Brown with a raised boot and he was duly cautioned.

In the 21st minute Anderson couldn’t collect a ball, but it broke to Luke Benbow and he struck a first-time low shot from around 20 yards out that was safely held by Agboola.

The threat from the visitors grew as the half wore on and on 26 minutes an inswinging free-kick from the right from Ravi Shamsi led to Pierpoint slicing his attempted clearance over his own crossbar to concede a corner.

With 35 minutes played Mills provided a cross from the left that was headed out by Charlie Wise towards Thompson-Brown and he took a swing at the ball but miscued his volley well wide.

Four minutes later Amer Awadh exchanged passes with Greg Kaziboni before going down in the box with the referee in close attendance signalling no penalty.

In the 42nd minute Wren palmed away a left-wing corner and Kaziboni, from a tight angle beyond the far post, could only head the ball back onto the roof of the net.

On the stroke of half-time Wren was called into action again to save a deflected shot from Kaziboni as the half drew to a close without a goal.

HT Stourbridge 0 Banbury United 0

The match really sprang to life following the opening goal of the game with 54 minutes gone. Wise was cautioned for a foul on Mills which gave the Glassboys a free-kick just outside the left-hand corner of the box and Benbow proved to be the man of the moment again with his free-kick beating the wall and dipping and clipping the inside of Agboola’s left-hand upright to beat the keeper’s dive and find the net.

The visitors sought a quick reply with Shamsi drilling in a rising shot from the right-hand side of the box that Wren clutched at his near post and as play continued to open up Banbury went close again in the 61st minute. While Chrostophorou was temporarily down, Shamsi sent over a fine cross from the left that was superbly cleared away by Brown at the back post with Johnson waiting to pounce right behind him.

In the 65th minute Thompson-Brown clipped a ball into the edge of the Banbury box and Anderson challenged for it along with his marker. The ball dropped towards Benbow and he let fly, however his shot cleared the crossbar.

With twenty minutes remaining new signing Bilai Yafai was introduced for his debut as he replaced Anderson and he quickly made an impression.

In the 75th minute Thompson-Brown and Benbow worked a short corner routine and Thompson-Brown’s deep cross was headed back across goal where Yafai saw his shot blocked by Agboola and as Banbury struggled to clear their lines, the ball was returned back into the middle where Yafai couldn’t keep his header down.

Four minutes later James Wren was booked for time-wasting before Banbury had a golden opportunity to get back on level terms with eight minutes remaining. Awadh released sub Steve Diggin away through the left-hand channel area as he had been played onside by Brown on the other side. He advanced into the box with Wren narrowing the angle and the former Brackley forward slid his low shot inches wide of the far post to let the home side off.

Soon afterwards Aaron Forde became the second Stourbridge player to receive a booking and he was substituted moments later with Tom Tonks coming on in his place and then in the 88th minute Brad Birch replaced Thompson-Brown.

In the latter stages Banbury looked to go more direct with Wise pushed forward alongside Johnson. A minute into time added on Diggin lofted a ball up but Johnson could only direct his header straight at Wren.

In the third minute of stoppage time Stourbridge made the game safe. George Nash was caught in possession by Mills and with the visitors looking for a foul that wasn’t given, Mills strode on into the box and buried a low angled shot past Agboola into the opposite corner of the net.

After the game Stourbridge boss Gary Hackett told the NLP: “We played Banbury quite recently and they proved a very dangerous and talented side. We were not at our fluent best but we defended well and coped with Banbury’s big aerial threat. Yes, we had to grind out a result today and obviously we do look at Kettering’s result afterwards, but we can only concentrate on what we can do and so it was a good day for us.”

Stourbridge - Wren, Westlake, Brown, Christophorou, Pierpoint, Forde, Anderson, Broadhurst, Benbow, Thompson-Brown, Mills

Subs - Yafai (for Anderson 70 mins), Tonks (for Forde 84 mins), Birch (for Thompson-Brown 88 mins), Steele, Maher (not used)

Booked - Wren, Forde

Attendance - 701