It's Championship Success For Banbury!

It’s congratulations to Banbury United who have won the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central title with four games to spare.

Andy Whing’s side’s 1-1 draw at the Plant Hire Community Stadium proved enough to clinch the championship after second-placed Coalville Town were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Hednesford Town.

In front of a fantastic crowd of 1,835, it was visiting Tamworth who came to spoil the party and took a 15th-minute lead when Shaquille Whittingham’s half-volley from just outside the area screamed past Jack Harding in the Puritans goal.

The Lambs held that advantage at the break, but Banbury equalised on 64 minutes with a calm finish from Jack Stevens.

However, in the first minute of stoppage time, the home side were given a golden chance to win the game when they were awarded a penalty.

But Jasbir Singh saved Giorgio Rasulo’s spot-kick and the game ended all-square – only for celebrations to begin when news of Coalville’s draw filtered through.

Peterborough Sports will now be eying second spot after they beat League Cup winners Royston Town 2-1 at Garden Walk to move to within two points of Coalville.

The Turbines had a great start when they were awarded a penalty after just 8 minutes for a foul on Lamine Sherif and Dan Lawlor duly converted.

It was 2-0 after 33 minutes when Ky Marsh-Brown was put through to slot past Crows` keeper Dimi Kyriatzis.

It was almost 3-0 right on half-time, only for a Mark Jones header being cleared off the line.

Royston pushed hard to get back into the game in the second half but had to wait until 3 minutes from time for Adam Murray to grab a consolation.

Rushall Olympic dropped to fourth-placed after losing 3-2 at Westwood Road to a St Ives Town side who are now four points clear of that third-from-bottom play-off spot.

Sam Whittall gave the Pics an 11th minute lead with a header from a neat move.

Then, right on half-time, Rushall had the opportunity to double their advantage when Tyler Lyttle’s shot hit the hand of a defender, but Whittall’s penalty was saved by Ed Brearey.

And to add to the visitors` misery, in first-half injury-time, Nabil Sharif pulled the Saints back on level terms.

Twenty minutes from time, the hosts were awarded a spot-kick which Dylan Williams scored from, only for 5 minutes later, the visitors being awarded another penalty when sub Jon Masidi was brought down in the box and Tom Thorley netted.

But the Saints won it 6 minutes from time with a second goal for Williams.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds also lost ground in fifth as they were held to a 3-3 draw in front of 712 at Hayden Road against Leiston.

Jake Hutchings gave the Suffolk visitors a 14th minute lead from close range.

Jordan Graham equalised on 39 minutes on his first start since joining Diamonds to leave the sides all-square at the break.

But just 4 minutes after the restart, Hutchings restored Leiston’s lead, again from close in.

Then with 65 minutes gone on the clock, Diamonds were awarded a penalty when sub Shane Bush was pulled back and Nathan Tshikuna made it 2-2.

Just 2 minutes later and the hosts had the lead when Tshikuna’s effort was parried straight to Jesse Akubuine to score.

However, on 84 minutes, a penalty was awarded for Leiston as Tshikuna was penalised for a foul and Will Davies duly made it 3-3.

That draw just leaves Alvechurch with an outside chance of catching Diamonds as they won 1-0 in the derby at the War Memorial Athletic Ground against Stourbridge.

In front of 543, an own goal by Joe Hull after 23 minutes eventually settled the points in Alvechurch’s favour.

At the other end of the table, it was a good day for Nuneaton Borough, Bromsgrove Sporting and Hitchin Town, but a bad one for Lowestoft Town and Barwell.

Nuneaton won 2-1 at a Needham Market side who seem to have headed for the beach since losing their Buildbase FA Trophy quarter-final tie!

A 20-yard Charlie Dowd effort in the 27th minute had Boro in front at the break.

Kyle Hammond equalised on 64 minutes, but a vital three points for Jimmy Ginnelly’s side came courtesy of an Ahmed Obeng goal 16 minutes from time.

A crowd of 1,253 at the Victoria Ground saw Sporting edge neighbours Redditch United 1-0 to maintain a two-point lead over Nuneaton in 18th spot.

Bromsgrove hit the bar in the first half but the decisive moment came on 66 minutes with a Nathan Hayward goal to earn the Rouslers three valuable points.

In front of 559 at Top Field, Hitchin moved three points clear of Nuneaton after edging a five-goal thriller with bottom-markers Lowestoft.

It was the visitors who took a 26th-minute lead through Tai Fleming, only for Steve Cawley to equalise right on the stroke of half-time.

Five minutes after the restart, Alex Brown converted a penalty to give the Canaries the lead and then on 85 minutes, Rio Da Silva surely won it for Hitchin with a third.

But Harry Knights reduced the deficit to one in the 87th minute and only a brilliant save by home `keeper Charlie Horlock towards the end of the game prevented Jake Reed from levelling for the Trawlerboys.

Barwell are in trouble though after a second successive defeat, this time at the Arden Garages Stadium against mid-table Stratford Town, plunged them down to 17th, level on points with Bromsgrove, who possess two games in hand.

The Bards hit the crossbar with a header just before the end of the first half and then did take the lead on the hour-mark with a shot from Ashley Sammons.

And on 80 minutes, it was game over as a fine strike from Jack Storer beat Liam Castle in the Barwell goal.