It was a mix of moods at the final whistle on the opening day of the season, as we earned a good point away from home, but it could easily have been more than that.

There was plenty of reshuffling over the summer, but the ever present James Bradbrook started in goal. Matty Miles, making his competitive debut for the Yellows, started alongside the returning Ryan Henshaw and last season’s fan player of the year Tom Dickens, to form a strong back three. There was a change of shape in the midfield as Jake Turner (©), Ben Bradley, two of last season’s heroes as we pushed to stay at step 3 for the first time, played with new arrival Myles Cowling, and Academy graduate Ollie Peters, who made his first competitive start for the Suds in seven years - since coming back to the MEL this summer. We had a recognisable strike force, with last season's top goal scorer Joe Neal having Simeon Jackson and Callum Page either side of him. On the bench, we had Charlie Lewis, Josh Allen, and an academy trio of Liam Pearce, Max Brownsdon, and Luca Terminiello.

It was Sudbury who started the brighter of the two sides, with multiple corners and dangerous free kicks in quick succession, but we failed to trouble the goalie or have a clear shot on goal, with the organised Banbury defence standing strong. The home side came into the game more with about 15 minutes of the half to go; Bradders having to make some comfortable saves, the most difficult having to stop a fierce low cross from the right hand side. With about five minutes of normal time of the first 45 remaining, the ref pointed to the spot as Ben Bradley was judged to have pushed AJ George. He took the penalty for the hosts, and scored, firing into the top scorer giving Bradders, who dived the right way, no chance.

HALF-TIME: Banbury United 1-0 AFC Sudbury

At the break a few things were, as Dave Walton later described it, “put right’ in the dressing room, and that seemed the case as we started once again the stronger of the two teams. Pagey headed just wide less than two minutes into the start of the half. The pressure we were applying eventually made a crack in the water tight defence of Banbury, as after a bit of head tennis between Sudbury players, Ollie Peters played a wonderful flicked pass into the path of Joe Neal, who when one on one with the goalie, was never going to miss, and he slotted past the ‘keeper with ease. Not long after that Joe Neal had a go from distance, and he forced the goalkeeper into an uncomfortable save with the ball getting stuck between the goalies legs, preventing the Suds taking the lead. We thought we had taken the lead, and that Myles Cowling had scored a debut goal, but the linesman put his flag up against Josh Allen who, without touching the ball, was deemed to have interfered with play. Ryan Henshaw did what he does best, twice in a row, as he put his body on the line, clearing dangerous efforts away from the Sudbury goal. After a lengthy stoppage during the four added on minutes of the half, the ref eventually called an end to the match, a draw for the Suds. The players came off “frustrated that we hadn’t got three points” but the Sudbury Faithful were incredibly proud of their team, and it seems we are all in agreement with Dave that this was an opening match where “we would have taken a point” ahead of the game.

FULL-TIME: Banbury United 1-1 AFC Sudbury

Next up we face Biggleswade at home on Tuesday, let’s make the atmosphere special for a first match at home this season, and a game under the lights. See you there, Yellows!

By Isaac Mennie