A COMMITTED defensive display ensured Banbury United dug in to stay in the Buildbase FA Trophy.

Their 0-0 draw at AFC Rushden & Diamonds has set up a first qualifying round replay tomorrow night, in what will be the clubs’ third meeting in eight days.

But Thame United suffered late heartbreak, conceding in injury time to lose 2-1 at home to Frome Town.

Mike Ford’s Puritans had lost 2-1 at Rushden in the BetVictor Southern League last Tuesday.

And they had to work hard to avoid a repeat result, with Jack Harding having a busy afternoon.

The United goalkeeper had already made one good save when a big chance fell to Alex Collard from a Rushden free-kick midway through the half, but the defender could not get his powerful header on target.

The visitors’ best spell of the game came late in the first half.

Janaai Gordon and Giorgio Rasulo had shots saved, while Eddie Odhiambo smashed a shot just wide when a corner fell his way just before the break.

Liam Dolman had the ball in the net for the hosts five minutes into the second half, but it was ruled out for offside.

The defender came close again midway through the half, but he was denied by a spectacular save from Harding.

Banbury came under increasing pressure as the half wore on, with one effort cleared off the line as Rushden piled forward.

But Ford’s side held on as a couple of big chances came and went in stoppage time to book a replay at home tomorrow.

Thame were not so fortunate, but they did well to get their tie on considering the wet weather.

The home side started the strongest and got the goal their play had merited when Dan West turned in a Ryan Blake corner on the half hour mark.

Frome had offered precious little going forward in the first half, but came out from the interval looking a different side.

Rex Mannings levelled the scores from close range within two minutes of the restart.

The forward quickly came close to a second with a shot which deflected just wide, while Dan Cottle was denied by an excellent save from Thame goalkeeper Craig Hill.

The stopper made three more big saves to keep the hosts in it, but they were undone in the 93rd minute when Mannings bagged his second goal.

  • THE only fixture involving Oxfordshire sides in the BetVictor Southern League did not go ahead.

Wet weather led to Eynsham Park’s pitch becoming waterlogged, so North Leigh’s Division 1 Central clash with Yaxley was postponed.