Two goals in the first ten minutes of this game, firstly from Tom Winters and then Conor McDonagh put United well on the way to an opening day three points against their Dorset visitors.

Eight minutes had gone, though a four minute stoppage for an injury to visiting goalkeeper Chris Weale meant playing time had been only four minutes, when United would take the lead. Sam Humphreys passed the ball down the right touch line towards Conor McDonagh who had too much pace for Ross Carmichael, getting ahead of the Dorchester defender before then crossing low into the centre where Tom Winters was on hand in the middle of the six yard box to knock the ball home.

Just two minutes later and it was 2-0. A wayward pass from Dorchester defender Chris Clark was intercepted midway inside the visitors' half by McDonagh and though tackled the ball fell to Jefferson Louis who took the ball down the right of the Dorchester penalty area to the by-line before crossing into the centre where McDonagh who had continued to run forward fired the ball high into the top of the net at the far post.

Dorchester responded with a couple of efforts from distance by Neil Martin and Sam Lanahan but neither caused any major concerns to Jack Harding in the Banbury goal.

Though Dorchester had a decent amount of possession in the half to the midway point, they would fall three goals behind in the 22nd minute as Banbury continued to ruthlessly take full advantage of poor defending. The third goal came when McDonagh collected a throw-in on the edge of the Dorchester penalty area down the left and then passed inside to the forward running George Nash who in plenty of space had the time to pick his spot and stroke the ball low into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards.

Dorchester would have a decent spell in the last quarter of an hour of the half. In the 38th minute they went very close to pulling a goal back when a 25 yard shot from Martin bound for the bottom corner of the net saw Harding do well to dive low to his left to tip the ball around the post for a corner. A minute later though it could have been 4-0 when a cross from the right by Charlie Hawtin was met by Louis on the edge of the six yard box but Weale acrobatically at full stretch palmed the goal-bound header away.

Both sides continued to create chances as the half due to a conclusion. A 25 yard effort from Dorchester's David Jerrad went wide, Humphreys dipping shot from a similar distance went just inches over the visitor's bar, McDonagh tried to lift the ball over the advancing Weale on the edge of the Dorchester penalty area but failed to get enough height on the ball and then right on half time a free from the left by Jerrad saw the incoming Jordan Storey head just over the bar from the six yard line.

Eight minutes into the second half and Banbury made it 4-0 when a corner from the left was met with a superb towering header from Luke Carnell 12 yards out, the ball flying into the top corner of the net.

Harding came to Banbury's rescue just before the hour mark when doing well to dive to his right to save a long range effort from Jerrad which looked bound for the bottom corner of the net. Three minutes later though it was 5-0 when Winters passed the ball through to Louis on the edge of the Dorchester penalty area who in plenty of space competently slotted the ball past an exposed Weale. A further three minutes on and Carnell nearly made it 6-0 when he headed a Winters free-kick from the left against the crossbar from the edge of the six yard box at the far post.

On 70 minutes Dorchester went as close as they had all game to that point in scoring when Kyle Egan was given too much time on the edge of the area to shoot for goal, his effort smashing against the crossbar before coming down and being cleared. But the visitors would not have to wait too long to get the goal they deserved when Matt Peake-Pijnen brought down Egan inside the penalty area along the right goal line with Jerard converting the spot-kick in some style striking the ball high into the top corner of the net to Harding's left.

Banbury would still have time to go close twice to getting a sixth. A Leam Howards goalbound shot, albeit not hit properly, was cleared just in front of the line by Storey and then Ravi Shamsi took the ball around Weale before rolling the ball towards the net and it looked like a goal all the way but Oliver Griggs did exceptionally well to get back and just manage to clear the ball away before it crossed the line.

Overall it was an impressive result with Banbury having what it took to take full advantage of what was at times some poor defending from the visitors. There will be much more difficult tests to come, and the two away games at Chesham and then Hitchin next week are likely to be so but it is nevertheless an excellent start to the season for United.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Charlie Hawtin, Jack Westbrook, George Nash, Ricky Johnson, Luke Carnell, Matt Peake-Pijnen, Sam Humphreys (Ravi Shamsi 62), Jefferson Louis (Duran martin 73), Conor McDonagh (Leam Howards 57), Tom Winters.
Subs (not used): Tom Bradbury, Damien Robertson.

Dorchester Town: Chris Weale, Gary Bowles (Callum Laird 68), Chris Clark (Dom Panasar-Dower 73), Jordan Storey, Ross Carmichael, Billy Lowes, Maxwell Buckler (Oliver Griggs 73), Neil Martin, Sam Lanahan, David Jerrad, Kyle Egan. Subs (not used): Jamie Beasley, Jason Brookes.

Attendance: 369

Photo of Luke Carnell celebrating his goal by Edwin Barson