After the Boxing Day draw at St James Park, Brackley deservedly won this New Year Day’s return fixture through substitute Levi Amantchi’s second-half goal to climb back into top spot.

A tight first period gave way to a pulsating second half. Saints should have gone ahead through a double chance on 65 minutes. Callum Stead was through one on one with keeper Jack Harding who saved well only for Adi Yussuf to see his close range follow up effort blocked on the line by Ben Radcliffe in a let-off for Banbury.

Callum Stead and Riccardo Calder on one wing and Cosmas Matwasa on the other posed a continual threat and the goal was nothing more than Roger Johnson’s side’s play warranted when Amantchi tapped in after fine work on the left by Stead who took full advantage of the overload to get to the by-line and thread a pass across goal for Amantchi’s first strike since signing from Braintree Town.

The goal led into a period of sustained pressure on Danny Lewis’ goal as Banbury pressed but the meanest defence in the league held strong, superbly marshalled by captain Gaz Dean, to claim another clean sheet with Lewis rarely tested.

As Banbury pushed for the equaliser and were reduced to ten men with captain Giorgio Rasulo’s late red card, the visitors spurned chances to increase the lead as Stead fired over after excellent interplay with Adam Rooney and Amantchi headed too high from Jimmy Armson’s free-kick.

“When we are at it, we are a very good team and hard to beat,” Johnson said. “In the second half we were outstanding. We were on top and we were a threat. In the end we got our reward and I am buzzing for Levi as it’s been a tough transition for him. There were some really good performances out there today. We made a couple of changes because it is a squad game but the subs came on and made a difference. Banbury have a good following but I thought our supporters were superb and I am pleased so many came out and we got the three points.”

Brackley Town: Lewis, Carline, Walker, Richards (Amantchi 72) Calder, Dean, Matwasa, Woods (Murombedzi 59), A.Yussuf (Rooney 73), Stead, Armson. Subs unused: Lopes, Cullinane-LIburd.

Banbury United: Harding, Roberts, Smile, Williams, Landers, Rasulo, Stevens, Acquaye, Hickman (Dugmore 73), Radcliffe (Langmead 90), Babos (Gordon 77). Subs unused: Taylor, Reilly.

Referee: Darren Rogers Assistants: Lewis Mansfield-King and Harley Hetherington

Attendance: 1770