Worcester City and Banbury United play out a thrilling 1-1 draw at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium as City earn their first points of the new season.

Both sides had their fair share of the ball in the opening few minutes, but it was Banbury with the first shot of the game as James Alabi hit one from distance, trying to catch City’s keeper and debutant Jack Thompson off his line, but his effort went well over the bar.

25 minutes in and tempers rose in the encounter as Spencer Hamiliton’s lunging tackle had Banbury players pleading for the city defender to see red, however Hamilton came away with just a booking for his reckless effort.

Just shy of the half-hour mark, Banbury’s persistent chances paid off when Connor Ferguson broke away from the City defence and, after cutting back, fired the ball past Thompson in net to put the hosts 1-0 up.

The hosts nearly doubled their lead after some great link-up play between James Alabi and Marcel Guzynski after catching the City back line out, before Guzynski fired his effort inches over the bar.

The chances didn’t stop for Banbury as Peter Abimbola fired a chance at speed towards the near post of Thompson before his effort struck the side netting.

Worcester’s best chance of the game came 40 minutes in as Niall Flint’s driven pass was narrowly missed by City forward Dan Sweeney as the City looked to start putting pressure on the host’s fragile lead.

Banbury thought they had doubled their advantage late in the first half as Connor Ferguson had the ball in the back of the net after some ping-pong action from a Banbury set piece, but was ruled out by the referee for a suspected hand in the build-up.

Minutes after the restart, Logan Stoddart was played in on goal and equalised for City after playing the ball around Banbury’s keeper Jack Harding to level the game.

20 minutes into the second half, City almost took the lead after a glancing effort from Hamilton, off Felix Miles’ corner, went inches wide of Jack Harding’s near post.

As the clock ticked on, chances became sparse for either side, but City continued the second half just as they had started it by utilising possession and gaps in the Banbury defence.

The hosts almost retook the lead as midfielder Joel Anker struck the ball from outside the area with his effort just dipping over the bar as Banbury looked to apply pressure to City’s dominant second half.

Despite a dominant second half from City, neither side could be split and both teams take a point each from tonight’s contest.

Worcester City will continue their Southern League Premier Central campaign with a trip to Bloomfields against Needam Market on Saturday August 16th at 3pm.

Match report by Harry Wilcox.