This was a hard-fought encounter between two sides that had already met twice previously at Loop Meadow this season, with nothing between the teams, and so it proved, with the first-half producing very little in goal-mouth action or incident. In fact, the first chance of the game fell to Banbury well after the half-hour mark when Ollie Stanbridge cut inside and sent in a curling shot that was just wide of the far post.

In the second minute of first-half injury time, Banbury again went close when Lewis Hilliard forced Didcot ‘keeper Matthew Trott into a point blank save, aided by a defender, and the ball went for a scrambled corner.

The second-half followed in the same vein as the first, with no chances given by either side, and to be honest, the game was hardly a feast of entertainment for either set of supporters, as the inevitable goal-less draw beckoned.

Even when Banbury were awarded a penalty in the 80th minute, the deadlock was still not broken. Ollie Stanbridge was adjudged to have been fouled by Andy Williams in the area, and David Stone drove a fairly good spot-kick close to being just inside the right-hand post, only to see Trott make a brilliant save and turn the ball around the post.

However, United got the all-important breakthrough in the 87th minute when Stone forced his way into the penalty area on the left, and cut inside before shooting, but his shot was well-saved by Trott who palmed the ball away, but only into the path of Joe Coleman who calmly slotted the ball home from six yards out to give Banbury the three points.

Team :- Scott, Redknap, Ashton (42 mins. Taylor), Milner, Learoyd, Stanbridge, Coleman, Haisley, Stone, Hilliard (71 mins. Shariff), Martin. Subs. (not used) Foster, Benjamin.

Attendance – 162