ALMOST six months after the initial fixture was abandoned, Banbury United host Slough Town in their rearranged EvoStik Southern League Premier Division match tonight – with their league survival on the line.
The Puritans trailed 2-1 at half-time during the original clash last October when referee Lee Sheridan was struck by a plastic bottle thrown by a spectator, causing the abandonment.
Banbury were eventually handed a four-figure fine for the incident following a lengthy FA disciplinary process.
The Southern League ordered the game to be replayed, but the rearranged fixture was only given the go-ahead last week after the visitors withdrew their appeal.
United manager Paul Davis expressed his gratitude to Slough for allowing his side the opportunity.
He said: “Full credit to Slough for withdrawing their appeal so we would have the chance to settle it on the pitch.
“It was a remarkable act of sportsmanship from them and we’re very grateful.”
Banbury must win this evening and in their final match of the season, at Chesham United on Saturday, to stand any chance of staying up.
A 4-0 home win over Histon on Saturday kept their hopes alive, but Davis refused to look beyond this evening.
“I know it’s a cliché, but we have to just take it one step at a time,” he said.
“If we don’t win this game Saturday is irrelevant, so this is our biggest game of the season as far as I’m concerned.”
TONIGHT’S SQUAD
Banbury Utd: from Bedwell, Walcott, Cray, Ryan, Meade, Green, Martin, Tahin, George, Howards, Fishwick, Weston, Tappin, Amegnaglo, Browne, Westbrook, Lewars, Daffern, Isaac, Abdellah.
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