Banbury United 0 Redditch United 1.

REDDITCH ground out a victory their control just about deserved at Banbury – even if Jazz Luckie’s winner was rather fortuitous.

Chasing Nat Kelly’s clip into the left channel, Luckie got away with a tug on defender James Fawke’s shirt before scampering away to plunder what proved to be the winner on 62 minutes.

The calm finish was a rare moment of quality in a match bereft of cutting edge but it was enough for the resolute visitors to pocket the three points their solid streak just about warranted.

Clayton McDonald almost opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a thumping header from a Reece Hales corner but it was cleared off the line by Puritans full-back Callum White.

Banbury’s Mark Janes felt he should have had a penalty after hitting the deck in a tussle with Duane Courtney but man in the middle Scott Postin was unmoved.

Home keeper Jack Harding rushed into no-man's land and almost gifted Danico Johnson with the ensuing tussle resulting in the Reds striker asking for a spot-kick but again, Postin firmly said no.

Johnson's fierce angled drive was blocked at the near post by Harding while Banbury’s best effort came when Leam Howards flashed wide on the volley seconds before the half-time whistle.

Reds began the second half well and Reece Hewitt’s clever ball with the outside of his foot released Johnson down the left to cut back for Luckie who was denied the opener by the slightest of deflections.

The lively Eli Bako failed to connect properly with a low bobbling centre but the controversial goal soon arrived with Luckie clipping the ball past Harding from close range.

Janes headed over from a promising position but the momentum didn’t last and it was only during the dying embers that Banbury forced the issue.

An uncharacteristic double error from centre-halves McDonald and Courtney afforded Janes a golden opportunity but he wildly lashed over and substitute Felipe Barcelos crossed for Darius Browne to clear the crossbar from close quarters in added time.

Reds: Catlow 6, Jones 6, Kelly 6, Spink 8, McDONALD 8*, Courtney 7, Bako 7, Hewitt 7, Luckie 7 (Thompson, 75), Johnson 7 (Brown, 83), Hales 6 (Taylor, 67, 5). Unused subs: McDermott, Apostolopoulos.