Banbury Utd 1

(Green pen 54)

Hitchin Tn 1

(Burke 90)

Banbury United had victory snatched from their grasp as promoted Hitchin Town grabbed an injury-time equaliser in their Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division clash at Spencer Stadium on Saturday.

Leading 1-0 through Will Green’s penalty early in the second half, Banbury should have sewn things up two minutes into time added on when Sam Youngs dragged his shot wide with just keeper Martin Bennett to beat.

Hitchin immediately broke upfield, and Zak Burke capitalised on a slip at the back to equalise.

It was an agonising finish for Banbury, whose fans had seen that new manager Ady Fuller and his assistant, Paul Lamb, have assembled a capable squad of players as they dominated Hitchin before the break.

Down both flanks, wing backs Ben Polk and Simeon Williams mesmerised their opposite numbers with their quick footwork.

Banbury had a few first-half chances, the best of which fell on the half-hour when Bennett got fingers to Green’s effort and turned the ball away for a corner.

Banbury at last got their just rewards in the 54th minute when Polk had his legs whipped away by ex-Dagenham & Redbridge full-back Tom Pepper in the penalty area.

Green stepped up to hit a powerful spot-kick to Bennett’s left to give the Puritans a well-deserved lead.

Banbury went close to increasing their lead when Glenn Walker screwed the ball back to Danny Edmond, whose curling shot brought out another good save from Bennett.

But Hitchin had the last word.

Banbury Utd: Kemp, Williams, Polk, Thackeray, Dolman, Kinch, Youngs, Coleman, Green (Stanbridge 84), Edmond, Walker. Subs not used: Dowling, Travers, Hill, Peppiatt.

Attendance: 256.