Boss Whing sees plenty of positives after a mixed week for the Puritans

Goals from Henry Landers and Jack Stevens earned the Puritans a superb 2-0 victory at Kidderminster Harriers last weekend.

But they were edged out at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium on Tuesday night as King’s Lynn Town claimed a 1-0 success with United being reduced to 10 men when Ben Radcliffe was sent-off for a challenge, which resulted in a penalty which goalkeeper Jack Harding saved.

Banbury face a different type of challenge in their next two games as they host Farsley Celtic on Saturday and Leamington next Tuesday night - two teams who are battling for points at the wrong end of the table.

But Whing has been impressed with his team’s efforts in the last two matches and is keen to see them maintain those performance levels going forward.

“This time of the season is a lot different to the start of it,” the Banbury boss told Puritans Radio.

“You start seeing the pressure increase on teams.

“We went to Kidderminster on Saturday and they were booed off at half-time and at the end and then King’s Lynn were hanging on to get the points to take them to the top of the league.

“Farsley Celtic will be desperate to get points to help stave off relegation and we are trying to get three points to keep on track.

“It will be a totally different game and we will see the majority of the ball, I’d think.

“There will be a lot of shock results but we are really pleased with our last two performances and hopefully we can carry that into the remaining games.”

Whing, meanwhile, was furious with the decision to send Radcliffe off in midweek but was delighted with the way his team went “toe-to-toe” with title contenders King’s Lynn despite being reduced to 10 men.

“I thought it was one of the worst sending-off decisions I have seen in my life,” he said.

“He wasn’t the last man. It was a penalty, he pulled him back but the referee has ruined the game.

“Other than that, I thought we were absolutely outstanding.

“We have gone toe-to-toe with 10 men and we had loads of chances, even with 10 men.

“The goal was poor, it was one long ball and we should be dealing with it better. It was one mistake and we have been punished.

“But I thought we were really good and deserved something out of the game.”