JOAO Rangel struck his second goal of the campaign as Leiston picked up a good point at Banbury on Saturday. It was the Blues first-ever point at Banbury, writes Craig Cooper.

Rangel was on hand to dance past defenders and break free in the 20th minute, going one on one with Banbury ‘keeper Jack Harding, to put the Blues ahead.

However, the lead didn’t last long, as Reece Styche charged down Billy Johnson’s kick to put the ball into an empty net to help claim a point for the Oxfordshire club.

And that was the way it stayed.

Chris Wigger made one change to the Blues side that started against Kettering Town on Tuesday night, with Joe McNeil coming in for Ronnie Blois, who started on the substitute bench. Ben Fowkes and Willie Clemons are still out injured.

Adam Mills’ diagonal ball found Rangel after just three minutes, with the Blues player getting into the box and forcing a good save out of Dan Harding in the home goal.

Connor Ferguson had Banbury’s first effort on goal in the sixth minute but the midfielder’s strike went well wide of Johnson’s goal.

James Alabi then had a good chance with a header inside the area but the striker nodded just off target, with the ball going past Johnson’s left-hand upright.

Leiston won a couple of corners which Banbury cleared and McNeil nearly played Mills through on goal but Harding was out to claim the ball.

Blues captain Seb Dunbar blocked a shot well inside the box before Leiston broke in the 20th minute and Rangel went past a couple of home defenders to slot the ball past Harding and give the Suffolk side the lead.

However, the lead lasted for only three minutes, as Styche did well to block Johnson’s attempted clearance and put the ball into an empty net.

Attempts on goal were then few and far between for a while, with Leiston playing some neat football. On 33 minutes, Dunbar’s ball found Rangel and he crossed to Mills who volleyed wide of Harding’s goal.

Eddie Jackson made a good block late in the half, with the period ending with three minutes of stoppage time.

Six minutes after the break, Banbury player Nick Jones curled a shot just wide of Johnson’s goal while just before the hour mark, Aaron McCreadie got in behind the Blues’ back line but Leiston eventually cleared.

Mills shot over for Leiston while Kyle Callan-McFadden blocked a home strike and sub Joel Anker hit the foot of Johnson’s right hand post.

Johnson made a decent save from Anker on 77 minutes after good play by James Alabi, before Mills had a great chance to win it on 84 minutes, but the Blues striker shot straight at Harding when in on goal.

Rangel shot wide in the last action of the game, with the referee blowing for time.

FT: Banbury United 1 Blues 1

Leiston host Redditch United in their next league game next Saturday.

Line-ups;

Banbury United: Harding, Flanagan, Gusynski, Giles, Ofosu, Jones, Ferguson, MCreadie (Abimbola 70 mins), Styche (Anker 46 mins), Stokoe, Alabi. Subs not used: Whyman, Fuller and Mirnam.

Blues: Johnson, Hill, Dunbar, Callan-McFadden, Jackson, Rangel, Alexander, Jack Manly (Batho 78 mins), Mills (Walsh 88 mins), Jarvis (Frostick 81 mins), McNeil (Blois 57 mins). Sub not used: Mehew (GK).

Blues Man Of The Match: Joao Rangel

Attendance: 551