FOOTBALL: Luke Carnell and Manny Duku keep up Banbury's play-off bid

With just three Premier Division games remaining, the Puritans are one point behind Merthyr Town in the final play-off position.

Banbury boss Mike Ford had to make do without George Nash(ill), but there was a place in the starting line-up for the returning Tom Winters, with Eddie Odhiambo replacing the injured Callum White.

The struggling hosts started strongly with Craig Norman and Shane Perry forcing visiting keeper Jack Harding into athletic saves early on.

However, it was Banbury who made the breakthrough after 15 minutes.

Tom Winters’s corner-kick from the right was cleared back to him, and he crossed for Carnell to head home from 15 yards.

Whilst the home side had their fair share of possession, Banbury always looked dangerous going forward

McDonagh set up Self who hit the post from a narrow angle.

Then just before half-time Winters cut in from the left before firing just over keeper Giles Cutlan’s bar

In the first minute of the second half Cinderford went so close to equalising when Nick Harrhy’s shot hit the post.

Banbury had to work under pressure to keep the home side out.

However, in the 79th minute a quick break saw Jack Self put Duku through down the centre.

The substitute fired over Cutlan from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner of the net.

It should have been plain sailing for Banbury.

But five minutes later a neat passing move put Norman through on goal, and he fired home a low shot from the edge of the area.

There were an anxious final few minutes for Banbury and their fans.

But they held out to keep alive, even though Merthyr’s two late goals to win at St Neots keeps the Welsh side in the driving seat for fifth place.

Banbury Utd: Harding, Odhiambo, Bradbury, Martin, Westbrook, Carnell, McEachran (Browne 82), Self, Johnson, McDonagh (Duku 57), Winters (Blackstock 73). Subs not used: Bell, Keranovic.

Attendance: 175.