This was a game in which Banbury started the better of the sides. In the 8th minute a good shot from Darius Browne on the edge of the Dorchester penalty area on the left had to be tipped over the bar by visiting goalkeeper Shane Murphy.

As the half developed it became a more equal affair though neither side looked threatening to score.

However it would be Dorchester who would make the breakthrough in rather fortunate circumstances when a free kick just outside the Banbury penalty area on the right taken by Neil Martin was headed by Banbury defender Jack Westbrook at the near post past goalkeeper Jack Harding.

Banbury responded reasonably well to going behind and created a couple of chances towards the end of the half. Firstly Mark Bell took the ball in from wide on the left, along the goal line before lifting it over to the far post where Ricky Johnson's shot was hacked away from close to the goal-line by Dory Yates. Then a minute before the interval a cross from the right down by the corner flag by Callum White saw Johnson head just wide at the far post.

Six minutes into the second half Barcelos passed the ball inside from the left to Bell whose fierce shot from the edge of the Dorchester penalty area could not be held by Murphy but the loose ball was then cleared away by the visitor's defence.

In the 62nd minute Dorchester went very close to doubling their advantage when Neil Martin's shot from 25 yards hit the top of the crossbar before going over.

However, five minutes later it was Banbury's turn to be denied by the woodwork. Bell took the ball forward from just inside the Dorchester half to close to their penalty area before passing inside towards Johnson who stepped over it to allow Barcelos to shoot from just inside the penalty area but Murphy managed to just get his fingertips to the ball to divert it onto the post and the loose ball was then hacked away by Matt Oldring.

Five minutes later though and it was 2-0 as Banbury failed to defend a corner from the left. Nathan Walker's header at the far post hit the crossbar and with the ball bouncing down, Oldring's header was then headed away by Jack Westbrook but the loose ball was then bundled over the line in a scramble by Chris Dillon.

Banbury went close to reducing the deficit two minutes later when Jack Self was put through on goal by Barcelos but his shot from 12 yards saw the impressive Murphy get enough on the ball to slow it down and Oldring was on hand to kick the ball away before it could cross the line.

A minute from time, Banbury did score when George Nash fed the ball through to Mark Janes 25 yards out who then turned sharply before unleashing a superb shot which flew into the net past a bemused Murphy.

It was though by then too late to make a difference and Dorchester returned South with the three points.

Banbury had deserved to lose at Dunstable on Tuesday but were more deserving on the balance of play of getting at least something out of this game. Still, if you don't put the chances away at this level, as we know from a few years ago you often pay for that!

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Callum White, David Lynn, George Nash, Jack Westbrook, Andy Gunn, Darius Browne, Jack Self (Duran Martin 78), Ricky Johnson, Felipe Barcelos (Mark Janes 78), Mark Bell. Subs (not used): James Fawke, Leam Howards, Jacob Blackstock.

Dorchester Town: Shane Murphy, Matt Oldring, Jake Smeeton, Mark Jermyn, Nathan Walker, Chris Dillon, David Jerrard (Liam Sayers 30), Dory Yates, Tony Lee (Jason Brookes 55), Mario Mateus (Ben Walker 81) , Neil Martin. Subs (not used): Nick Swann, Solomon Ayunga.

Attendance: 324