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http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/banburyunitedfootballclub/

The AGM of Banbury United FC will be held on Monday 5th July in the clubhouse at 7.30pm.

Two important additional items will be on the agenda; a presentation on the proposed move to Bankside (Bodicote) and a change of status for the club to a Community Interest Company, this change would enable the club to launch a share issue.

We hope so see you there.

BANBURY UNITED 3 SWINDON SUPERMARINE 1

The first-half of this much-rearranged game lived up to pre-match expectations, with neither side needing the points, and a pretty boring spectacle looked on the cards as we approached the interval. However, after the break, the game improved noticeably, and in fact the spectators were witness to two of the best goals scored at Spencer Stadium this season.

Little happened during a poor first-half until the 38th minute when Swindon took an unlikely lead when Nick Stanley struck the ball home from just inside the penalty area.

Banbury equalised in the 58th minute when they won a free-kick when David Stone was fouled some 20 yards out, and David Staff curled a delightful shot around the wall and into the net for a great goal.

Jason Taylor went close in the 67th minute with an overhead kick which was fractionally too high, but United took the lead in the 73rd minute, Banbury deservedly went ahead with a goal of real quality. Ollie Stanbridge set Stone away on the left, and he worked the ball past two defenders before unleashing an unstoppable rocket of a shot which fooled Matt Bulman in the Marine goal and went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Eight minutes later, United wrapped the game up with their third goal when Staff crossed from the left, and Taylor struck the ball home at the near post.

Team :- Scott, Stanbridge, Ashton (67 mins. Redknap), Milner, Learoyd, Martin, Coleman, Benjamin, Stone, Taylor, Staff. Subs. (not used) Hilliard, Sambrook, Livous.

Attendance – 131

If there is a typical end-of-season game where no-one needs a point for promotion or relegation, then this was it, with an entertainment factor of zero.

Evesham got off to a cracking start when they scored within 26 seconds of the start, when Kevin Spencer slotted the ball home following a free-kick which ran right through the defence.

Banbury never really looked interested throughout a lack-lustre first-half, and indeed, Evesham were little better, not actually needing to do a lot to improve on their early lead, and it was a wonder that the crowd bothered to stay until the end, such was the lack of initiative from either side.

Once the home substitutions were made, Banbury started to look a little more interested, and in the 78th minute, the impressive Nathan Vaughan pulled off a great save when he tipped a fierce drive from Nabil Shariff around the post for a corner.

Following an altercation with Adam Learoyd in injury time, Anthony Robinson woke everybody up when he was sent off.

Team :- Scott, Stanbridge (57 mins. Hilliard)), Martin, Milner, Learoyd, Haisley, Coleman, Benjamin, Stone, Taylor (65 mins. Shariff), Staff (72 mins. Ashton) Sub. (Redknap (not used)

Attendance – 321

BANBURY UNITED 0 BRACKLEY TOWN 3

Brackley completed the double over Banbury with this victory on Bank Holiday Monday, and whilst the score-line flattered them somewhat, the Saints were certainly worth the three points.

United were without the injured David Stone, but Nabil Shariff was an able deputy and he went close early on with a header into the side netting, following a left-wing cross from Marvin Martin.

However, it was Town who took the lead in the 23rd minute when a cross from Drew Roberts caused Jason Taylor to rocket a header past his own ‘keeper and into the net, whilst under severe pressure from Brett Solkhon.

Banbury had hard luck in the 30th minute when a Jack Ashton corner from the right was deflected off a defender’s head at the near post onto the underside of the crossbar before being gratefully cleared. United continued their efforts to get back on terms, and in the 32nd minute they again went close when Adam Learoyd beat Brackley custodian Richard Morris to a Martin free-kick from the left, and the ball went over the ‘keeper’s head but went a foot wide of the unguarded post.

The obvious instructions fed to the Brackley players at half-time was to go all out for another goal, and two minutes after the break, the Saints got it when Tom Winters did well to see off the challenge of Joe Coleman, and he fired a powerful shot past Joe Murrell from the edge of the box to double Brackley’s lead.

Banbury’s heads dropped for a few minutes, and they were lucky that they didn’t go further behind when Carl Palmer and Solkhon both missed chances, and Murrell did well to save efforts from Winters, Owen Story and Palmer, before United got their composure back. It was then Morris’s turn to save the day when he tipped over a ferocious 30 yard shot from Declan Benjamin in the 57th minute, and also Chris Willmott blocked an effort from Learoyd, who also headed another chance over the bar.

However, in the 74th minute Ben Mackey made the game safe for Town when he scored a fantastic goal from a narrow angle, hooking in a fierce shot into the top corner of the net. Six minutes later, Coleman brushed the crossbar with a hopeful cross-shot, but the game was already over by then.

Team :- Murrell, Redknap, Ashton, Staff (65 mins. Hilliard), Learoyd, Haisley, Coleman, Benjamin, Shariff, Taylor, Martin. Subs. (not used) Stanbridge, Milner, Foster, Scott.

Attendance – 628