BY GIORGIO! RACE 20 POIN PURITANS NTS CLEAR
BANBURY United stretched their lead at the top of the table to a near unassailable 20 points – but they were made to work by a gallant Hednesford side.
Giorgio Rasulo’s penalty 12 minutes from time ultimately saw the Puritans home after the visitors had earlier led through Todd Parker.
The Pitmen settled the quicker and were rewarded for their early efforts when Todd Parker coasted through into the Banbury area and fired home.
The lead, however, lasted just seven minutes, courtesy of a fine free-kick from Morgan Roberts. Jack Stevens was pulled down 20 yards and Roberts fired home into the left-hand corner.
Banbury finished the half strongly and were unfortunate not to edge in front when Stevens’ shot from a corner was blocked on the goal-line, while captain Rasulo saw an effort saved by Grant Basey in the Pitmen goal.
Banbury continued to press after the break and went close again when leading scorer Chris Wreh’s shot hit the crossbar and bounced to safety.
Wreh fired another effort wide but on 77 minutes they got the breakthrough when Roberts was brought down by Reece Flanagan and Rasulo fired the subsequent penalty into the left-hand corner.
It’s now seven matches unbeaten for the Puritans and manager Andy Whing said: “A
two-week break didn’t help us – we were not good off the ball in the first half.
“We were better in the second half and we are good at grinding out the result.
“It was great to have Jack Stevens back again and for Henry Landers to get game time. Hopefully loan player James Golding will be back in the fold after being called back to Oxford United last week on the bench.”
Hednesford manager Keenan Meekan-Richards added: “We came with a game plan to slow Banbury down, which we did. We went to Tamworth last week and did well there and we reduced Lowestoft to one shot.
“We’ve had problems with other times trying to sign our young players. We need mature players where possible and I had a great opportunity to run our academy team and bring young players on into the first team.”