Buildbase FA Cup First Round Preview - Banbury United

Banbury United v Canvey Island.

Saturday sees the Emirates FA Cup First Round take place under rather different circumstances than normal.

Due to various live streaming platforms, the ties are spread over the whole weekend, but Saturday sees one of only two Pitching In Southern Football League clubs still involved, Banbury United, play their tie at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium against Isthmian League North side Canvey Island.

The game has been selected to be shown on the BBC's digital platforms.

The tie will take place behind closed doors, kicking-off at 3pm.

The match will be filmed using a single camera, with both clubs receiving £5,000 for being chosen.

The visitors to North Oxfordshire reached the Third Round in 2001/02.

After winning 1–0 against Wigan Athletic and Northampton Town in both the First and Second Round, they lost 4–1 at Burnley in the Third Round.

The early 2000s were undoubtedly the Gulls halcyon years as they reached the Conference National, won the FA Trophy at Villa Park – and lost a second time to Hednesford Town three years later – and regularly reached at least the First Round of the FA Cup.

Their fall down the non-League Pyramid came in 2007 when they asked for voluntary demotion to the Isthmian League Division One North.

They immediately obtained promotion to the Premier Division but were relegated in 2017.

Their current season statistics make peculiar reading as they have played as many games in the FA Cup as they have in the league (five apiece).

Their cup campaign started back on September 12th when they beat Isthmian South Central side Ware 2-0 in the Preliminary Round at their own The Frost Hire Stadium.

League rivals Dereham Town were despatched by the same scoreline in the First Qualifying Round and they beat Southern League Division One Central side Biggleswade 4-3 on penalties after being held to a 2-2 draw at home in normal time.

Another Isthmian South Central outfit, Bedfont Sports, were beaten 2-0 away from home in the Third Qualifying Round and that gave them a Fourth Qualifying Round tie at home to Isthmian Premier Division side Cray Wanderers.

And the Gulls survived a second half comeback from the Wands after leading 3-0 by the 22nd minute, courtesy of an Evans Kouassi brace and another from top scorer Conor Hubble.

They have struggled to match those heights in their league campaign to date a 4-0 hammering of fancied Grays Athletic being their only win to date, although they have only lost one of the other four games, that being a 1-0 defeat by promotion favourites Maldon & Tiptree, who are also involved in the FA Cup First Round with a home tie against League Two side Morecambe.

On paper, Banbury start favourites for the tie as they ply their trade a step higher in the non-League Pyramid.

But as we all know, the FA Cup can produce anything and Andy Whing`s side don`t exactly head into the match in prime form!

Last Saturday`s 2-1 defeat at The Lamb by Tamworth was the Puritans third successive league defeat, which includes a 6-1 whipping at Coalville Town.

Like Canvey Island, Banbury seem to preserve their best form for the cup, having edged past Northern Premier League Division One South East side Carlton Town in the First Qualifying Round, courtesy of a Giorgio Rasulo effort.

They were `giantkillers` in the Second Qualifying Round as Vanarama National League North neighbours Leamington were seen off 1-0 on their own The Phillips 66 Community Stadium patch, thanks to a header from experienced defender Kelvin Langmead.

It took a 7-6 penalty shoot-out triumph to defeat league rivals Peterborough Sports in the Third Qualifying Round and that earned them a home tie with Canvey Island`s league rivals Bury Town.

And the Puritans will know they are in for a tough test on Saturday if that game is anything to go by as they were indebted to goals in the final 15 minutes from Jack Self and Henry Landers to beat the Rams, who had led from the 23rd minute.

Who`s Who?

BANBURY UNITED

Manager:
ANDY WHING

Appointed in May 2020. Made 346 Football League appearances, playing for Coventry City, Brighton, Chesterfield, Leyton Orient and Oxford United where he won the supporters’ player of the season award in 2012 and was a popular figure with fans until retirement in 2015.

He has coached at Oxford United, Kidderminster Harriers more recently at Hereford FC.

Player/Assistant-Manager:
JAMES CONSTABLE

A 35-year-old striker who joined Banbury in May 2020 as a player and as number two to Whing.

He began his career in the youth system at Cirencester Town before playing for Chippenham Town where his performances earned him a move to Football League side Walsall.

Spells with Kidderminster Harriers and Shrewsbury Town followed before he joined Oxford United in 2008 where in six seasons he scored 106 goals.

He then joined Conference side Eastleigh in May 2014 and had loan stints with Poole Town towards the end of his time with them before having a short spell as player-coach with Hungerford Town last season.

Players:

Goalkeeper JACK HARDING came through the Banbury youth side and progressed to be a regular in the reserve side, also making five first team appearances before having spells with Hellenic League sides Hook Norton and Ardley United.

He returned to Banbury in the summer of 2015 and has now made over 200 appearances for the club.

SAM BROWN is a 27-year-old left back who was originally a junior at the centre of excellence of the now defunct Rushden & Diamonds.

He joined Kempston Rovers in 2009 before moving to AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the summer of 2012, playing in their first ever senior match in the United Counties League.

He was a regular for the Northamptonshire side for eight seasons, as the club climbed through the non-League Pyramid to their current Southern League Premier Division status, making for them over 300 appearances.

He joined Banbury in August 2020.

JOSH ENDALL is a 19-year-old who was on schoolboy forms with Walsall and Coventry City prior to joining the Solihull Moors academy, making his first-team debut for them at the age of 16.

He earned a move back to Coventry City in October 2017, playing for the Sky Blues under-18 side and then for the under-23s in season 2018/19.

After being released, he joined Stratford Town for the start of last season before opting to move to Redditch United in November 2019.

He joined Banbury for the start of this season.

CHARLIE HAWTIN is a 22-year-old right-back who joined Banbury in the summer of 2017 after being released by Oxford United on completion of his scholarship.

Whilst at Oxford he had `work experience` spells with Burnham, Wantage Town and Aylesbury FC.

LEE HENDERSON is an experienced 30-year-old central defender who joined Banbury in the summer of 2018.

He had been at Oxford City since the summer of 2013 after joining them from Didcot Town.

He had also previously played for Bicester Town and Witney United and was at Oxford United as a youngster.

KELVIN LANGMEAD is a vastly experienced 35-year-old central defender who began his career as a striker with Preston and though only making one league appearance for the Lilywhites whilst at Deepdale he made a few appearances on loan at Carlisle United, Kidderminster Harriers and Shrewsbury Town.

He then joined Shrewsbury permanently in 2004 and after making more than 80 appearances for them as a striker he was converted to a central defender and went on to make a total of 231appearances for the Shropshire side.

Spells with Peterborough United and Northampton Town followed before, after making a career total of 375 Football League appearances, he dropped down to non-League football playing for Ebbsfleet United, Kidderminster, Nuneaton Town and Harrogate Town prior to joining Brackley Town in the summer of 2019.

He made the short journey to Banbury in August 2020.

CONNOR ROBERTS is a 24-year-old central defender who joined the Puritans in the summer of 2019, having returned to the area after spending four years at the University of Bath and for that period playing for Southern League Frome Town.

Was originally a product of the Northampton Town academy before earning a professional contract with the Cobblers, having a spell on loan with Biggleswade Town before being released by Northampton in January 2015.

He then had a short spell with St Albans City before signing for Biggleswade permanently until joining Frome in October 2015.

JACK FINCH is a 24-year-old midfielder who progressed through the Coventry City academy to sign professional forms with them at the end of season 2013/14.

After making 16 League appearances he was released at the end of season 2016/17 and after a short spell with Kidderminster Harriers he joined Banbury United in November 2017.

He made 46 appearances for the Puritans before spending last season with Daventry Town.

He re-joined Banbury at the start of this season.

Midfielder AARON HEAP is a 20-year-old midfielder who completed his scholarship with Oxford United, being rewarded in the summer of 2018 with a professional contract.

He made two appearances for United in the EFL Trophy in season 2018/19 and was a regular in their under-23 side that season.

He joined North Leigh on loan in October 2019, a move made permanent when he was released by Oxford in January 2020.

He joined Banbury in August 2020.

ALEX HENSHALL is a winger who joined Banbury in September 2020.

He spent eight years in the junior set-up at Swindon Town before joining Premier League side Manchester City in June 2010 at the age of 16 for a reported £250,000 fee.

Loan spells at Chesterfield, Bristol Rovers and Ipswich Town followed before, he joined the Suffolk side permanently in the summer of 2014.

He made four appearances for the Tractor Boys and had a loan spell with Blackpool before moving `north of the border` in March 2016 to join Scottish side Kilmarnock.

He has since played at non-League level for Margate, Braintree Town, Nuneaton Town, Darlington, Nuneaton Borough, Swindon Supermarine and Stratford Town.

GIORGIO RASULO is a 23-year-old midfielder who came through the MK Dons academy, progressing to make his first-team debut at the age of just 15 in an FA Cup tie against Cambridge City.

He went on to make his Football League debut, aged just 16, in the final game of the 2012/13 season.

Whilst at MK Dons he had loan spells with Oxford United, Aldershot Town and Oldham Athletic.

He was released by MK Dons at the end of season 2017/18 and joined Banbury in September 2018.

He has represented England at under 16 and under-17 level.

JACK SELF is a 25-year-old midfielder who re-joined Banbury in September 2020.

He first joined the club in the summer of 2016 from Didcot Town and made 108 appearances for the Puritans and scored 13 goals before leaving for National League South side Oxford City in November 2018.

After making 54 appearances for City, he joined Chippenham Town in February 2020.

He was originally part of the Oxford United youth system, joining Oxford City on his release before moving to Didcot Town in the summer of 2014.

JACK WESTBROOK is a 25-year-old midfielder, who can also play in central defence. He originally joined Banbury at the start of season 2014/15 after spending three years with South Midlands League side Mursley United.

After making 48 appearances for the Puritans that season, he moved to Redditch United in the summer of 2015 but opted to return to Banbury just three months later in October 2015.

His second spell with the Puritans saw him make another 108 appearances before leaving in November 2017 to join AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

He re-joined Banbury for his third spell in the summer of 2019.

AMER AWADH is a forward who came through the youth system at Oxford City, playing primarily for the Oxford City Nomads side though he progressed to make a few first-team appearances.

He had been playing for Fanja SC in Oman prior to joining Banbury in February 2018.

JAANAI GORDON is a 24-year-old striker who came through the youth system at Peterborough United, making 4 League appearances for them before moving to West Ham United in December 2013.

Whilst not making a league appearance for the Hammers he had loan spells with Chelmsford City, Nuneaton Town, Sligo Rovers and then Newport County, making 10 League appearances when with the Welsh club.

He moved to Cheltenham Town in September 2017, making 4 early-season appearances for the Robins before long-term injury ruled him out of the game for 18 months.

He returned to playing football in January 2019 when he joined Tamworth.

He signed for Banbury in August 2019 and scored 15 goals in 23 appearances before leaving the following November for National League South side Oxford City.

He started this season back at Tamworth before re-joining Banbury in October.

PABLO HAYSHAM is a 28-year-old striker or attacking midfielder who was originally with Oxford City and was a regular in their Hellenic League Oxford City Nomads side, as well as making a few first team appearances for them, prior to him joining Southern League Division One side Didcot Town in the summer of 2012.

In three seasons with the Railwaymen, the Spanish born striker scored 36 goals from 120 appearances, attracting the attention of Phoenix club Hereford FC whom he then joined in the summer of 2015.

At Edgar Street he was part of the side that won three successive league championships and appeared in the FA Vase Final as Hereford quickly moved up through the non-League pyramid, scoring 52 goals for them in 142 appearances.

He joined Southern Premier South side Salisbury in the summer of 2018 before returning in February 2019 on loan to Didcot until the end of the season.

He joined Banbury in the summer of 2019.

RICKY JOHNSON is an experienced striker who joined the club for his third spell in the summer of 2015.

He originally came through the Banbury youth side and made a few first-team appearances before going on to play for Easington Sports, Witney United, Hook Norton and Woodford United.

He returned to the Puritans in December 2011, scoring 19 goals in 42 appearances before leaving in September 2012 for Leamington where he helped them to win the Southern League championship in 2012/13 before playing the following season for them in Conference North.

He spent season 2014/15 playing for Hellenic League Premier Division side Ardley United before joining Banbury for his third spell in the summer of 2015.

He has now made over 250 appearances and scored over 90 goals for the Puritans and also played a number of games for the club in central defence.

HENRY LANDERS is a 20-year-old striker who joined Banbury in the summer of 2020.

He played for Oxford City at youth level before moving to North Leigh, his 24 goals for them in season 2018/19 was a key factor in them retaining their Southern League status.

His goalscoring exploits earned him a move to National League Maidenhead United for season 2019/20.

After a couple of sub appearances for the Magpies, he had a loan spell with Cheshunt before opting to move back to North Leigh in November 2019.

He scored 12 goals in 18 appearances for the Millers before last season was abandoned in March, including him scoring all 5 goals as they won 5-4 away to Bedford Town towards the end of January.

CURTIS MORRISON is a versatile forward who joined the Puritans in October 2020.

A scholar at Chesterfield, progressing to earn a professional contract in the summer of 2016, he made his League debut away to Shrewsbury Town in August 2016.

Loan spells at Gainsborough Trinity and Matlock Town followed before he joined Guiseley in the summer of 2017.

Season 2017/18 saw him out on loan to Buxton and Matlock Town but the following season he was a regular for Guiseley in their National League North campaign.

He joined Gainsborough Trinity for a second spell, this time on a permanent basis, in August 2019 before moving at the end of January 2020 to Grantham Town.

CANVEY ISLAND

Manager:
Mark Bentley

He was appointed as Gulls manager in October 2018 having previously been in charge of Grays Athletic.

As a player he represented the likes of Dagenham & Redbridge, Southend United and Gillingham.

He joined Grays in the summer of 2014, going on to become player-manager and oversee the creation of an excellent Blues side before departing in 2016.

He has since been coaching in the academy with Leyton Orient and Stevenage.

BOBBY MASON is a highly rated goalkeeper who joined Canvey Island in August 2020 from Great Wakering Rovers where he impressed last season.

Among his former clubs, he lists Aveley, Hullbridge Sports, Thurrock and Witham Town.

MICHAEL FINNERAN is a 25-year-old central defender who joined the Gulls in June 2019 from rivals Grays Athletic.

A local lad, he supported Canvey as a child, going on to play for the youth and reserve teams before leaving in search of first-team football.

Having cut his teeth in the Essex Senior League, he went on to captain Romford in the Isthmian North before joining Grays in February 2018 where he played regularly in the heart of their defence.

ROB GIRDLESTONE is a 24-year-old central defender who signed for Canvey Island from Maldon & Tiptree in August 2020.

He came through the West Ham United academy system before joining Chelmsford City in the National League South in 2014.

He moved across Essex to join Concord Rangers two years later, making 76 appearances for the club and picking up the players' player of the year and supporters' player of the year accolades.

He joined Maldon & Tiptree in 2018 and was part of their excellent side last season that reached the FA Cup Second Round and was on course to win the Isthmian North before the season was cancelled.

MASON HALL is a young defender who signed for the Gulls in September 2020.

He was previously with Greenwich Borough, Wingate & Finchley, Leyton Orient and Heybridge Swifts.

DAN HUMPHREYS is a full back who is also comfortable in midfield.

He signed for Canvey Island in August 2019 having played for Aveley the previous season on loan from Southend United.

SAMMY KNOTT signed for the Gulls in June 2019 from Waltham Abbey.

Comfortable either on the wing or at full-back, he is a 24-year-old Canvey-born player and the son of ex-Gulls player from the late 1980s and early 1990s, Steve Knott.

Sammy played for the Gulls successful academy side before moving into senior football with the likes of Concord Rangers, Aveley and East Thurrock United.

His 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons were hampered with injury, but last year saw a return to fitness with spells with Concord Rangers, Tonbridge Angels and Waltham Abbey where he spent most of the campaign.

BEN SAMPAYO is a right-back who won the FA Youth Cup with Chelsea in 2010.

He went on to join Brighton before having spells with clubs including Chelmsford City, Greenock Morton, Grays Athletic, Dover Athletic, Heybridge Swifts and Bishop’s Stortford.

He signed for the Gulls in September 2020.

JEY SIVA is a Danish left-back (full name Jeyasiva Sivapathasundaram) initially signed for Isthmian North side Heybridge Swifts in the summer of 2018 before moving to Canvey Island in July 2020.

He left Swifts towards end of the 2018/19 season to get married, but he returned to the squad for the play-offs.

He played a major part in Wealdstone’s Isthmian Premier championship-winning side of 2013/14 before moving to Grays Athletic and then Cray Wanderers.

His other previous clubs include Tonbridge Angels, Enfield Town, Hillingdon Borough, Indian Gymkana and Newbury Forest.

He achieved a sports science degree at Brunel University where he made the England University side.

HARRISON CHATTING is a midfielder who returned to Canvey Island for a second spell in July 2020 from rivals Heybridge Swifts.

He previously played for the Gulls between 2012 and 2017, making 231 appearances and scoring 20 goals.

Originally with Billericay Town, he left to join Heybridge in the summer of 2017 where he had three successful seasons, playing 140 times and scoring 35 goals.

CONOR HUBBE is a 25-year-old attacking midfielder who signed for the Gulls from rivals Maldon & Tiptree in August 2020.

He began his career with Queens Park Rangers and moved on to Colchester United where he progressed through the academy to play in the Football League.

After loan spells with Leiston, he joined the Suffolk side on a permanent basis in 2015, going on to play for Billericay Town, Leiston again, Coggeshall Town and Maldon & Tiptree where he finished last season.

ROB LACEY is a central midfielder who progressed into the Gulls first-team squad in 2018 having played for Thurlow Nunn League Division One South side Benfleet.

ELLIOTT RONTO is an Australian midfielder who joined the Gulls from rivals Heybridge Swifts in July 2020.

He played for a number of clubs in his native Australia, including Queensland Academy of Sport, Gold Coast United, Rochedale Rovers and Redlands United before resuming his career in the UK with Bishop's Stortford.

He went on to join Witham Town before signing for Heybridge in the winter of 2018.

JAMIE SALMON is a midfielder who arrived at Canvey Island in August 2020 having played for Hullbridge Sports in the previous campaign.

He has previously represented Bowers & Pitsea, Great Wakering Rovers and Catholic United.

LOUIE HUNT is an 18-year-old striker who joined the Gulls in August 2020.

He came through the youth set-up at Concord Rangers, during which time he regularly represented Essex.

He progressed into the first-team squad for several National League South matches and has also played for Witham Town.

EVANS KOUASSI joined Canvey Island in July 2020 from Isthmian League North rivals Heybridge Swifts.

A well-travelled attacker from Ivory Coast who scored 10 goals for Swifts last season.

He was previously with Mildenhall Town, Wealdstone, Northwood, Kingstonian, Bishop`s Stortford, Enfield Town, Hayes & Yeading United, Concord Rangers, Chelmsford City and Billericay Town.

TOBI JOSEPH is a forward who signed for the Gulls in July 2019 having spent the previous five seasons with Hornchurch.

He has also spent time playing in Sweden for Östersunds FK and IK Brage.

TOM BLACKWELL is a young forward signed on loan from National League South side Chelmsford City in September 2020.

He has previously played for Coggeshall Town and spent time on loan with Long Melford and Stanway Rovers.