Preview: Banbury United v Barrow

5 November 2021

We take a closer look at this weekend's FA Cup action with a full and in-depth preview of The Bluebirds' trip to Banbury United.

Banbury United v Barrow
Saturday 6^th November 2021, 5.15pm
The Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium
Emirates FA Cup First Round

In Opposition
Banbury United have already won four FA Cup ties this season in order to make it through to the First Round Proper and set-up Saturday’s televised clash with The Bluebirds.

Andrew Whing’s impressive side are unbeaten in 19 so far this season. In fact, due to COVID bringing an early conclusion to 2020/21, you have to go back to last year’s FA Cup tie against Canvey Island to find The Puritans’ last defeat.

The Banbury boss was able to make big changes to his side for their cup game against Thame United in midweek, but they still came through unscathed, triumphing 4-2 despite conceding an early goal.

This is the second season in succession that the Oxfordshire outfit have made it to Round One of the FA Cup but they are bidding to reach the Second Round for the first time in their 90-year history.

One To Watch
Kelvin Langmead brings vast experience to the Banbury United backline and will be looking to use all of his knowhow to help them find a way past The Bluebirds this weekend.

The former Preston North End trainee went on to make almost 250 appearances for Shrewsbury Town and over 100 for Northampton Town so could be a key player on Saturday.

Now 36, Langmead scored the winner in The Puritans’ glorious win over Bath City in the last round of the FA Cup last month.

Head To Head
This is the first time that the two sides have ever played each other.

Referee
Rebecca Welch will be on the whistle for Saturday’s evening’s FA Cup tie between Banbury United and Barrow after she was called-up to replace original choice, Robert Madley.

In her first full season on the EFL’s list of referees, Welch last oversaw a Bluebirds game during the 2018/19 National League campaign when she saw us beat Hartlepool United 1-0 and draw with AFC Fylde and Bromley.

Welch’s most recent appointment came at The Peninsula Stadium on Tuesday night when she presided over Salford City’s entertaining 5-3 win over Leeds United Under-21s in the Papa John’s Trophy.

Tickets
There are now no tickets left for sale to Barrow supporters and those without a ticket are urged not to travel as there will be no availability at Banbury on the day of the game.

Live Television Coverage
This Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on ITV4, with Mark Pougatch presenting coverage which will be on-air from 4.30pm from The Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium.

Live Streaming
There will be no live stream of this weekend’s game due to the broadcast rights of the competition.

Live Commentary
We can still provide online commentary in the usual way on iFollow this weekend so if you can’t get there or watch on television then you can join us for live audio coverage.

We will once again link-up with BBC Radio Cumbria so you can listen to expert commentator Adam Johnson who will be joined on Saturday by England C Goalkeeper Coach Mick Payne.

You can purchase an Audio Match Pass for £2.50, an Audio Monthly Pass for £4.49 or sign-up for Audio Season Pass which provides all live commentary and video news for just £45.

Click here now to subscribe to iFollow.

Competition Rules
Each club may select up to nine substitutes for FA Cup ties, of which up to five can be used. However, teams are only permitted up to three opportunities (plus half time) to make substitutions within the 90 minutes.

If Saturday’s game remains all-square at the end of 90 minutes, then a replay will take place back at The Dunes Hotel Stadium to decide who takes up the place in Round Two.

Betting
Barrow have been installed as big 4/9 favourites to win the game in 90 minutes, with Banbury rated a 5/6 shot and a price of 14/5 on it going to be a reply.

Click here now to take a look at a full list of markets ahead of this weekend’s game.

Match Reports

Report: Banbury United 0 Barrow 4

6 November 2021

A photograph of Barrow striker Josh Gordon scoring against Banbury United — Barrow's Josh Gordon scores against Banbury United

Barrow safely negotiated their way into the hat for Round Two of the FA Cup with a professional display and a 4-0 victory over Banbury United on Saturday evening.

The ITV cameras were in attendance at The Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium, but an upset rarely looked on the cards as Mark Cooper’s side produced a solid display to inflict The Puritans’ first defeat of the season.

Barrow began the game with confidence and could have taken the lead on three minutes when a neat combination between Remeao Hutton and Jordan Stevens created an opportunity for Gordon, but he couldn’t make a clean connection with the shot, and it was cleared.

However, there were just eight minutes on the clock when The Bluebirds did strike. A ball forward was nodded on by Offrande Zanzala and Gordon was sharply on to it on the right of the area before rifling a clinical finish across keeper Ben Taylor and into the far bottom corner of the net.

It was the perfect start for Mark Cooper’s men though Banbury full-back Connor Roberts tried to respond with an effort from long-range but was it was always too high to trouble Paul Farman.

Hutton then skilfully won some space to cross from the right fringe of the penalty area and he found Gordon who met the ball with a firm header only for keeper Taylor to produce a smart save to tip it over the bar.

The Puritans came out with real menace at the start of the second half and whipped a couple of dangerous free kicks into the Barrow box, the second of which needed a decisive punch from Paul Farman as the ball threatened to drop for a Banbury player.

Stevens could have doubled Barrow’s lead when he set off on a sensational run from his own half, knocking the ball beyond the Banbury defence and then sprinting in behind only to be denied a wonderful goal by an excellent block from keeper Taylor.

However, it was only brief respite for the home side because Barrow did make it 2-0 on 55 minutes when Zanzala announced his return to the side by taking advantage of some hesitation in the Banbury defence to force the ball beyond the keeper and score despite the efforts of a recovering centre-back to clear off the line.

Banbury continued to show spirit and had a great spell in the aftermath of the second goal, hoisting some dangerous corner and free kicks into the Bluebirds area as they kept Cooper’s men on the back foot.

However, Barrow dealt with that period and started looking stronger again at the other end, Gordon almost helping himself to a second when he was fed in well by Brough, but his low shot flashed across goal and wide.

The game was up for the hosts on 79 minutes though when Zanzala pounced on yet more hesitant defending, and he went around keeper Taylor who brought him down – allowing Ollie Banks to add a third goal from the penalty spot.

Cooper then made changes as Gordon and Zanzala were replaced by Luke James and Josh Kay. The latter made an instant impact as, with his first touch, he drove clear of the Banbury defence and found Stevens and the former Leeds man drove a low finish into the net for 4-0.

Full Time: Banbury United 0 Barrow 4

Banbury United: B Taylor, C Roberts, Brown, Sharpe (Johnston 78), Langmead, Rasulo, Wreh, M Roberts (Reilly 88), Acquaye, Babos, Stevens (Landers 57).
Subs not used: Chapman, Rowe, W Taylor, Patterson.

Barrow: Farman, Hutton (Brown 54), J Jones, Platt, Grayson, Brough, Banks, Gotts (White 87), Stevens (Taylor 87), Gordon (Kay 82), Zanzala (James 82).
Subs not used: Lillis, Ellis, Arthur, Williams.

Booked: Hutton.

Referee: Rebecca Welch

Attendance: N/A

Ticket News

Ticket Information: Banbury United (A)

4 November 2021

Here are all the ticket details you need if you want to follow the lads in FA Cup action at The Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium.

We have been given an allocation of 360 tickets for our FA Cup First Round tie on Saturday 6^th November (5.15pm kick-off).

Remaining tickets are now on general sale but from Tuesday they are no longer available online and fans will need to come to The Dunes Hotel Stadium to buy them.

Tickets will remain on sale (subject to availability) until 4pm on Thursday.

This is an all-ticket game so fans who do not get a ticket for the game are urged not to travel as there will be no availability for away fans prior to kick-off on the day.

Prices

Seating
Adults - £13
Concessions (65 and over) - £9
Students (with valid ID) - £7
Juniors (18 and under) - £7
Under 5s – Sit on knee

Standing
Adults - £11
Concessions (65 and over) - £7
Students (with valid ID) - £5
Juniors (18 and under) - £5
Under 5s – Free

Barrow AFC

Standings

Preview: Banbury United v Barrow

Report: Banbury United 0 Barrow 4

Ticket Information: Banbury United (A)