Ryan Charles and Mbunya Alemanji on target as Bishop’s Stortford draw 2-2 at Banbury United in National League North

Bishop’s Stortford ended a run of nine successive away defeats in all competitions by drawing 2-2 at Banbury United on Tuesday night (November 21).

They led twice thanks to Ryan Charles’ fifth goal of the campaign and Mbunya Alemanji’s fourth in three games, but their Oxfordshire hosts claimed two equalisers.

The last time the Blues avoided losing on the road was in their first away game of the season at Gloucester City on August 12

The point keeps Steve Smith’s men second from bottom in Vanarama National League North ahead of their trip to 12th-placed Scarborough Athletic on Saturday (November 25).

Adi Yussuf dragged a shot wide early on for the 16th-placed Puritans having dispossessed Ben Marlow in midfield before Stortford defender Manny Adebowale executed a great tackle on Harry Parsons as he dribbled towards goal.

The Blues went ahead in the 22nd minute when Charles ran onto a ball over the top, cut inside and found the bottom corner with his right foot.

Gio McGregor had a chance to double the lead from a free kick, but his curling and dipping effort was kept out by Jack Harding at his near post.

And the hosts levelled matters in first-half added time when Yussuf beat the offside trap and beat Jack Giddens with a low shot.

Stortford restored their lead four minutes into the second period as Alemanji was pulled down in the box and dusted himself down to convert from the penalty spot.

Giddens did well to tip a powerful 25-yard volley onto the bar before Mark Haines denied Banbury substitute Craig Hewitt by hooking his effort off the line in the nick of time.

Stortford shot-stopper and captain Giddens also made an excellent reflex save to thwart Finn Tapp, but he was beaten by Tai Fleming’s header from the resulting corner as the Puritans equalised for a second time with 14 minutes remaining.

There was almost a chance for Stortford debutant Osman Sow to grab a winner towards the end from a cross by fellow substitute Aaron Greene, but the striker was beaten to the ball by a defender.

Banbury United: Harding, Davies, Maye, Tapp, Fleming, Barlow (D’Ath 60), Yussuf (Charles 45+1), Kelly-Evans, Ellliott-Wheeler (booked 65), Henderson (Hewitt 46), Parsons (booked 71). Not used: Obadeyi, Scott.

Blues: Giddens, Haines, Sodje, Robbins (booked 64), McGregor (booked 65; Greene 80), Marlow, Alemanji (Sow 80), Foxley, Adebowale, Charles (booked 42; Walker 56), Alexander. Not used: Messaoudin, Peters.

Attendance: 401.