A GOAL seven minutes from time denied Banbury United victory on their first trip to Rushall Olympic in Premier Division Central of the Evo-Stik South League.

The match finished 1-1, but the Puritans will be rueing not taking all three points.

The visitors debutant keeper James Goff had to be on the alert after six minutes to deny Rushall captain Simeon Maye, while Charlie Hawtin, returning to action after injury in March, had to make a goalline clearance five minutes later.

Banbury then broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with Ravi Shamsi scoring a spectacular volley from 30 yards.

In the second half Shamsi came close to doubling his tally, but shot wide.

However, in the 83rd minute, Rushall equalised after a strong spell of pressure when Danny Waldron’s shot from inside the box eluded Goff.

Banbury Utd: Goff, Ngathe, Wise, Gabbidon (Johnson 65), Hawtin, Self, Diggin, Shamsi, Henderson, Kazaboni (Bell 85), Finch. Subs not used: Awadh, Whitehouse, Baker.

Attendance: 271.