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Not being in possession of a ****-horse, it was a Cross-country train (the Chiltern one was running late, having mislaid a member of the train crew) that took JCFC to

Tuesday 22nd September 2020
FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
Banbury United   1   v   0   Carlton Town
Tom Bowkett (Birmingham); Simeon Stoodley, Andrew Hunt.

Ann's Tea Bar was staffed not by a fine lady, but by a gentleman who seemed unconvinced by JCFC'S explanation that Yorkshire folk do not have an accent - it's everybody else that does. But then,, he was a Spurs fan.

Slim, dark-haired Mr Bowkett is apparently about 30, but could very well pass for much less -even without the light behind him. One assistant was perhaps a little older, with a smart haircut and plenty to say; the other was younger, with very short fair hair and features that might have suggested a tendency to vacantness, but for the fact that they were regularly wreathed in smiles.It is not known which was which, but it matters not, as both proved very efficient.

Carlton made a bright start, but thereafter Banbury were on top for most of the first half. Mr Bowkett, too,made a bright start, penalizing the first push, which was enough to see that there were no more. The home number 4was spoken to on 19 minutes when AR1 flagged for a foul. There soon followed a string of Banbury corners, one being headed over by a defender under the bar. Great work by the home number 11 ended with a low cross, a desperate touch by the keeper's foot and a ricochet off an attacker in front of the open goal - but it flew just outside the post.  There was an indisputable yellow card for the Carlton number 7, who hauled down an opponent in full flow.

The same number 7 was spoken to early in the second half for a hissy fit when pulled up for a foul.The second half was more even, with defenders on each side having to earn their corn. This, however, allowed Banbury the space to take the lead on 77 minutes. Carlton came close to an equaliser, and in added time the home keeper blocked a strong effort with his knees, the rebound being blasted wildly over the bar.

Mr Bowkett operated in a calm, unfussy way, which was what the game required, and players did not test him too greatly. It was a very decent evening's work, but with Messrs Nield, Bramall, Reeves, Bauer and Kirk occupying the top five positions, it is hard for him to break into the upper echelons of Toms. Now, if he had been Dick or Harry instead...!