We looked to build on last Saturday’s convincing 4-0 win over Lowestoft Town yesterday afternoon as we travelled to Banbury United who were four points behind us in the league, after being relegated from the National League North last season.

Liam McDonald named an unchanged eleven from the side that won at Amblecote whilst the hosts had three new faces amongst their ranks having announced the signings of Twariq Yusuf, Chase Medwynter and former Glassboy George Forsyth the morning of the game.

Banbury United got the game underway and both teams were looking to settle into the game and gain control, with both sides winning set pieces which were dealt with well by their opposition.

Alex Moore was booked after just seven minutes after a tangle between him and Alex Prosser following an elbow on our midfielder by Harry Reilly went unpunished.

The first clear cut opportunity fell to our hosts around the fifteen minute mark when a slip from Jordaan Brown allowed AJ George to cut inside but his shot was wide of Ollie Taylor’s goal. They had another opening soon after when Forsyth lifted the ball over our back line but Reilly could only volley into Taylor’s arms.

Banbury’s defence stood strong after a shot forced Jack Harding into a good save as Yaw Ofosu prevented Freemantle getting to a dangerous cross which almost found him at the back post.

Banbury looked dangerous on the counter attack after dealing with heavy pressure from The Glassboys and Dom Lewis made an excellent sliding tackle to stop one such attack as George Ball picked up the ball inside our box.

The final action of the half saw Miro Pais and Tai Fleming spoken to at length by the referee after an off the ball incident which would eventually force Pais off through injury but neither player was shown a card.

Half Time: Banbury United 0-0 Stourbridge FC

We would be forced into the change at the break as Miro Pais was replaced by Jourdain Masidi before a stoppage just moments later saw Banbury replace Kgosi Ntlhe with Matty Donaldson.

Tempers were high for the opening period as Alex Bradley was involved in an incident with Fleming inside the area but again, the referee kept his cards in his pocket.

Our first opening of the half saw Lewis play Masidi through on goal but the flag went up before he could get a shot off.

Jessy Bavanganga would be cautioned with just over half an hour to play after a foul near the corner flag caused more tempers to flair however Taylor was on hand to claim the freekick which followed.

Our second change saw Ethan McLeod replaced by Jack Fletcher before Alex Bradley was replaced by Sam Unitt.

We continued to apply pressure on the Banbury back line and more good play around the box would eventually allow Unitt to find Lewis but his shot rose over the bar, before another promising attack saw Unitt have a chance of his own but his effort was deflected over the bar.

Bavanganga would have our penultimate chance of the game just moments from time when he headed over from Moore’s corner.

As the clock ticked down and the rain poured down, our final opening of the game saw Masidi’s pinpoint through ball play Joel Kettle through on goal but Harding was equal to his powerful strike and we were forced to settle for a point.

Full Time: Banbury United 0-0 Stourbridge FC

Banbury United: 1. Jack Harding 2. Tai Fleming 3. Kgosi Ntlhe 4. Alex Prosser 5. Yaw Ofosu © 6. Nico Jones 7. Harry Reilly 8. George Forsyth 9. Jaanai Gordon 10. AJ George 11. George Ball. Subs: 12. Matty Donaldson 14. Twariq Yusuf 15. Connor Ferguson 16. Archie Hollyhead 17. Chase Medwynter

Stourbridge FC: 1. Ollie Taylor 2. Jessy Bavananga 3. Alex Worley 4. Dom Lewis 5. Jordaan Brown 6. Joel Kettle © 7. Ethan McLeod 8. Alex Moore 9. Ethan Freemantle 10. Alex Bradley 11. Miro Pais. Subs: 12. Jourdain Masidi 15. Jack Fletcher 17. Callum Coyle 19. Sam Unitt 20. Elliott Durrell