Levi Steele nets brace as Banbury United clinch deserved win vs RC Warwick
Levi Steele scored his first two goals as Banbury United got their home league campaign underway with a breathless 2-1 victory over Racing Club Warwick.
Returning to the newly-named TUGO Community Stadium for the first taste of competitive action since April, Banbury’s rapid starts to both halves ultimately proved to be the difference in a feisty Tuesday night encounter.
The Puritans took merely 24 seconds to take a 1-0 lead as centre-forward Steele headed home from a teasing Finn Howell cross.
Joel Anker was direct down the left after kick-off, driving with the ball before playing through Howell on the underlap to swing into the danger zone.
Steele showed his sharp striker’s instinct for the finish, and Anker proved boss Langmead right in reinstating his place in the starting lineup.
Warwick responded well to Banbury’s mightily early goal, determined to get back into the game as quickly as possible.
Racers striker Aaron Apoku glanced a header wide from a deep Ryan Moore cross before James Hancocks arrowed wide with an improvised half-volley.
Hancocks then had an even better opportunity on the half-hour mark, but he was off balance and fired wide of the right post.
Warwick eventually capitalised on their pressure when Connor Keene netted an equalising goal 35 minutes in, firing under Banbury goalkeeper Jack Harding.
Albeit a composed finish from Keene, the credit has to go to striker Apoku for some determined work to bully Banbury centre-back Otis Castle off the ball and set up the scorer.
The Puritans felt a bit aggrieved by the challenge from Apoku as he nudged Castle, but it was a 50-50 and the Warwick striker ultimately came out on top.
The hosts improved after losing their lead and went agonisingly close to regaining it when Rico Patterson’s powerful long-range strike fizzed merely inches past the top right corner.
Anker then forced an unbelievable save from Warwick goalkeeper Tom Allsopp on the verge of the interval, volleying into the ground at the far post.
Just as they did in the first, Banbury came out of the blocks firing in the second half and restored their advantage in the 57th minute.
Steele, the fox in the box, was the scorer again as he deflected a shot into the bottom left corner. Ferguson was the creator, beating Alex Worley with skill before cutting the ball back.
Ferguson was fired up and seemingly eager to prove a point having been denied a penalty just a few minutes earlier, ironically under a clumsy challenge from ex-teammate Worley.
The Racers sounded the alarm as winger Jude Collins thundered the ball off the underside of the crossbar, but Banbury were unfazed and determined to score a third.
Ferguson was heavily involved again as he saw a shot saved one-on-one with Allsopp, and he then fired into the near side netting with a similar opportunity a few minutes later.
Deep into stoppage time, Ferguson missed yet another chance, seeing a low shot saved on the rebound from a driven Ben Nash effort.
On another night, Langmead’s side may have been made to rue their misses, but they were able to get over the line and secure a big first win of the season.