BANBURY UNITED 1 CAMBRIDGE CITY 0
Banbury registered their fifth consecutive victory on Tuesday, thanks to a 48th minute goal from top scorer David Stone.
United fully deserved all three points as they put pressure on their opponents from the opening whistle, and although City had chances of their own, United deserved the bit of luck that always seems to favour the team with the greater effort. The Lillywhites had a couple of early chances from long range efforts, but ex-Histon pair Adie Cambridge and Robbie Nightingale saw their efforts go wide.
The best early chance fell to United in the 26th minute when David Staff took a corner which found Ben Milner, but his glancing header was well saved by visiting ‘keeper Zac Barrett who palmed the ball away.
In an open game, both sides shunned chances, Declan Benjamin seeing his effort well saved after being put through by Joe Coleman, and City missing some decent chances, James Krause missing the target after being put through by Tony Burke, but the most glaring fell to City in the 40th minute when, with the goal at his mercy, Jamie Barker hit the post when it looked easier to score.
However, just two minutes after the interval, following non-stop pressure from Banbury, Stone put United ahead when he converted a pin-point cross from Coleman from no more than a yard out.
Banbury went close to going further ahead in the 67th minute, following a period of severe City pressure, when Nabil Shariff played Stone clear with a ball out of defence on the left. He raced forward and cut inside before unleashing a 25-yarder which was brilliantly saved by Barrett, who tipped the ball over the crossbar.
With Banbury still going forward, Jason Taylor was unlucky in the 84th minute when Barrett made another super save, this time touching Taylor’s 20 yard effort onto the post.
Whilst Cambridge had their chances and could have got something out of the game, they certainly found the combined pace of Coleman, Shariff, Stone, Benjamin and Staff all too much.
Team :- Scott, Stanbridge, Martin, Milner, Learoyd, Haisley, Coleman, Benjamin (80 mins. Redknap), Stone, Shariff (80 mins. Taylor), Staff. Subs. (not used) Hilliard, Ashton.
Attendance - 188