Match Preview | Banbury United (A)

By Ben Ditchfield | 17 October 2025 | Comments Off on Match Preview | Banbury United (A)

Halesowen look to get back to winning ways with a short Saturday afternoon trip to Banbury United

Head to Head

This marks the 30th meeting of the two sides since the start of the 1980’s. We have a 59% win ratio in the fixture, and went on an incredible run of no defeats in 13 matches spanning from 1986 to 2005 against the Purtians, including a seven game winning run. The Yeltz then only managed one win in eight from late 2005 to late 2008, but in the last six meetings, we’ve won five. In the last 10 games at The Spencer Stadium, we’ve just won just twice, with Banbury winning four, and the other four finishing as draws.

Russ Penn’s Thoughts

“On reflection I thought we started the Redditch game really well. The lead was deserved, and we probably should have got another goal with the chances we created. But obviously we took nothing from the game and that is disappointing. We have to try and take advantage of when we’re playing well, and kill games off as quickly as possible, and in turn prolonging the momentum. It is disappointing because we don’t feel we are getting the points that we deserve. But at the end of the day no one cares about that because performances are the thing that matters at the moment. The mood around the dressing room right now is one of frustration. That is the word from the club. We have had an indifferent start, and the expectation at this football club is too achieve high standards. We are trying our best to get that. We want it know, but know it takes time. We showed last season that when we achieve those standards we can beat anyone and we will be fine. We have to be prepared and take each game as it comes. I expect a very tough test against Banbury. They have a very good home record, but they have a very big pitch that we did well on last season. We need to go there with confidence, all be it we’ve been knocked the last week having taken the lead in our last two and not won. But I always say we are a match for anyone at this level. We are better than the position we are in and the points we have, but we have to prove that to people and get back on track.”

Oppostition Preview

Team Overview

In goal for the Puritans, Banbury legend Jack Harding has started all nine games this season amongst his 400+ for the club spanning over 10 years. The 33 year old was the only Banbury player to feature in every league game in the last campaign. On top of that Harding kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper (16), had the third fewest goals conceded per game and lowest goals second half conceded per game ratio for goalkeepers who played over 15 games.

At left back, 18 year old MK Dons academy starlet Marcel Guzynski started the first seven league games, but has since returned to his parent club. In his absence, Alex Worley & Max Fuller who take his place, although the former can also play centre half. 22 year old Worley has started the last two league games, recently joined from Stafford Rangers, and featured 14 times for Stratford Town at the start of last season, before making 14 for Stourbridge. 17 year old Fuller is in his first season as a senior player, and featured twice as a substitute this league season. At right back, 22 year old summer arrival Josh Flanagan has started seven of the nine league games, featured 12 times for Bedford Town last season, and 13 for step 4 Barton Rovers, contributing five clean sheets to the latter. Another 22 year old, versatile Keegan Bloom, has started five games across right and left back and spent last season at step 4 Harrow Borough, featuring in 37 league games.

As mentioned, the newest recruit Worley can play at centre half, but the main two central defenders have been Yaw Ofusu and Nico Jones. 28 year old Ofusu has started all nine league games, and started 39 of the 42 last season. 23 year old Jones has started six this season, and featured 29 times in the league for the Puritans last season, 26 of which starts.

In the middle of the pitch, Aaron McCreadie and Luke Stokoe are the only midfielders to have started all nine league games. 23 year old McCreadie featured in the Oxford United academy and three non-league sides, before playing in the United Arab Emirates for a few months earlier this year. 23 year old Stokoe also signed in the summer, and from abroad. The central midfielder featured 12 times scoring three goals at the start of last season for Hitchin Town, but proceeded to play in Finland’s third tier for a few months earlier this year. Fellow new signing, Peter Abimbola who signed from St Ives Town has started seven league games. The 21 year old featured 39 times (30 starts) for the Saints last season. Too add some squad depth, Harley Giles has started three of his six league games this season, while Kaydon Gardiner-Solomon has one solitary substitute appearance.

In the forward line, Joel Anker, who can play attacking midfield and out wide has started four of his eight league games and featured for the MK Dons academy, as well as having three loan spells in steps 4 and 5. 26 year old left sided winger George Ball has had six substitute appearances this league campaign but was a highly influential player last season, starting 30 times in his 39 league appearances. Banbury have four very strong forwards to go along with the rest of the squad. Connor Ferguson, James Alabi, Reece Styche, and Jonathan Lawson. 22 year old Oxford United academy product Ferguson has started all nine league games, already almost surpassing the 15 he made last season amongst his 33 appearances. There aren’t many 30+ year olds in the Banbury squad, but one who brings experience is 30 year old Alabi who has over 200 National League games under his belt, and has scored twice in nine league games this campaign. Main striker Styche is the danger man. The 36 year old Gibraltar international has started six of his nine league games, scoring six goals (two of which penalties). The veteran striker featured 36 times, scoring 4 times last season across Stratford Town, Bromsgrove Sporting, and AFC Telford United. Last but not least 19 year old Watford loanee Lawson who initially signed on a 28 day loan in late August, has started two of his six league games, and had his loan extended at the end of last month.

Statistical Insight

Banbury

  • Only Quorn (10) have scored more first half goals in the Southern Premier Central this season than Banbury’s 9, and no other side has scored more at home than Banbury’s 7.
  • No other side in the Southern Premier Central have scored more goals in the opening 15 minute period this season than Banbury’s 3 goals.
  • Only Bromsgrove Sporting (7), AFC Sudbury (6), and Royston Town & Needham Market (5) have conceded more goals in the Southern Premier Central this season after the 76th minute.
  • No other side in the Southern Premier Central have made fewer substitutions this season than Banbury’s 28. (3 per game on average)

Halesowen

  • Only Bishop’s Storford (14), Harborough Town (13), and Spalding United (11) have scored more second half goals this season in the Southern Premier Central than our 8.
  • Only Bishop’s Stortford, Quorn & St Ives Town (4) have scored more goals this season in the Southern Premier Central in the 15 minute period after half-time than our 3 goals.
  • Only Kettering Town (9) have won more points from losing positions this season in the Southern Premier Central than our 4. 
  • Only Harborough Town & Bishop’s Stortford (69), Kettering Town (56), Quorn (53), Spalding United (51), and Alvechurch (38) have spent more days in the top 5 of the Southern Premier Central than our 14 Days (as of 14 Oct).
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