Substitute Leon Simpson scored a late winner to give Banbury victory at ten-man Biggleswade in the Calor League Premier Division on Saturday.

The hosts were minutes away from snatching a point, despite playing for 40 minutes with ten men following the dismissal of Callum Lewis.

Adeyinka Talabi had given Banbury the lead, only for Biggleswade to level when Marvin Martin put through his own net.

The first half proved to be something of a damp squib as neither side were effectively able to stamp their authority on proceedings.

Wingers Talabi and Kynan Isaac provided Banbury’s greatest threat, Isaac forcing a save from Ian Brown in the Biggleswade goal after cutting inside and shooting low to his left.

The match came alive in the second half, sparked by an unsavoury incident which saw players from both sides piling into a shoving match and resulted in a red card for Biggleswade forward Lewis.

Banbury immediately made their numerical advantage count, taking the lead when Brown spilled Isaac’s floated ball across into the path of Talabi, who fired in from two yards.

The visitors laid siege to the Biggleswade goal, with Scott Bridges and Marvin Martin both going close to extending the lead, but on 69 minutes the sides were level.

Brett Connolly nodded a corner back across the box and as Banbury attempted to clear it the ball ricocheted off Martin and into the back of the net.

In response, Banbury introduced 6ft 9in striker Simpson against his old club.

With full-time approaching, the move paid off as Simpson headed in at the near post from an Isaac cross.

A nail-biting 11 minutes of injury time followed as Biggleswade threw everyone forward to salvage a point.

But Banbury held firm to leapfrog their hosts into sixth in the table.

Banbury Utd: Bedwell, Cray, Martin, Isaac, Blossom, Ryan, Lawless (Morgan 84), Bridges (Simpson 72), Skendi, McNulty, Talabi. Subs not used: Pinto, Sharpe, Mbamarah.

Referee: S Feerick.

Attendance: 180.