Chasetown FC Reserves were forced to settle for a draw at Banbury Utd’s second string in a pulsating clash at the Spencer Ground.
The visitors started probing to find any weaknesses in the home guard and Theo Robinson found gaps with two early attacks, but was denied by Banbury’s Jack Harding.
Drew Aiton hooked a shot narrowly over and Daniel Westwood tried a low drive from the edge of the box which was also gathered by the keeper.
Banbury replied with a close quarter attack which Mark Wiggins had to courageously collect from a Joe Eyre header.
At the opposite end Chasetown’s Tom Brown was nearest to breaking the deadlock when he instinctively turned a Degville-Cross pass on to the post.
Another good chance fell in the closing stages of the half. Robinson and Degville-Cross combined with an impressive one-two which resulted in Robinson chipping just over the right upright.
The Aiton brothers simultaneously saw efforts just off target after the break after Chasetown once more took the initiative.
Banbury bounced back and Steve Howkins should have opened the scoring when he connected with a James Peppiate cross, only to see his header go just over the bar.
This started a worrying spell for the visitors. United should have scored when Liam Richardson set up Craig Robinson. The goal was gaping but Robinson placed his shot far too close to Wiggins. Jack Hulin then showed even greater reflexes to steal the ball from the feet of Henry Rose when he looked certain to convert the follow-up.
But the Scholars bullied their way back into the action. Robinson went close from Matthew Wood’s pinpoint pass and Jamie Aiton fired just wide.
The breakthrough eventually came on the hour mark. Courtney Sowe connected with a Jonathan Gould cross, but Harding managed to palm away his header. Sowe responded first, side-stepping to thrust the loose ball home with his weaker right foot.
Banbury charged forward in search of the equaliser and Jamie Aiton threw himself in front of a Liam Richardson blast. The rebound fell to the feet of Joe Eyre who forced Wiggins into making an acrobatic save.
Chasetown launched another attack and Brown spotted an opportunity from 30 yards which floated over the bar with Harding beaten.
First team defender Jack Farmer was introduced to the proceedings on 72 minutes, his first appearance in a blue shirt this season after recovering from a leg nerve injury.
Just when it looked like Chasetown were holding for three points from their afternoon’s graft, Rose ran on to a through ball from Eyre before driving it home to claim the equaliser.
Banbury will become more familiar during next month as Chasetown re-visit the Spencer Ground for round two of the Challenge Trophy on the October 15 and then entertain them on October 29.
Chasetown: Wiggins, Degville-Cross, Gould, Sowe (Rock), J Aiton, Hulin, D Aiton, Wood, Robinson, D Westwood (Black), Brown (Farmer). Subs not used: Penny, Jones.
