Both Banbury and Chatham ensured their Dr Martens Eastern Division status for next season in an action-packed 3-3 basement battle on Saturday.

However, Banbury should have won with ease, having led three times and hitting the woodwork twice.

The game was dominated by an over-zealous referee, who booked four Banbury players, yet failed to see a headbutt on Matty Gooderick or an elbow on Jimmy Simpson.

He then equalled things out by sending off the Chatham player-manager Steve hearn for foul language directed at a Banbury player.

Banbury were out of luck in the opening minute when Simpson's free kick found Terry Muckelberg, whose powerful header crashed against the crossbar, with keeper Kevin Fennell well- beaten.

However, they took the lead in the 19th minute when George Redknap cleverly took the ball past his marker and placed it wide of Fenell.

In the 23rd minute, Chatham were awarded a dubious penalty, which Craig Roser netted for the equaliser.

Banbury regained the lead with the best move of the game. The impressive Simpson set up Ady Fuller, whose cross was headed home by Jody McKay.

Honours were even after the break, before Chatham got the equaliser in the 76th minute through Glenn Cook.

Banbury again regained the lead four minutes later, when Redknap's shot took a deflection off Cliff Hearn on its way into the net.

Hearn was sent off in the 88th minute, but ten-man Chatham then equalised a minute from time through Simon Austin.

Banbury: Tricker, Allen, Muckelberg, Sullivan, Simpson, Fuller, Corbett, M Travers, Redknap, Gooderick, McKay. Subs not used: Milner, Jenkins, O'Neill,

Attendance: 224.