United got off to the worst of starts, as after just 45 seconds a fine shot from wide out on the right sailed over Katie McLean’s head in the Banbury goal into the far top corner of the net.

A Katerina Poborska shot from just inside the City Belles penalty area in the ninth minute brought out a decent save from the home custodian but a minute later the Milton Keynes based side went close to doubling their advantage but McLean did well to tip a long range shot over the bar for a corner.

Though City Belles had the better of the game in the first twenty minutes, Banbury at this point worked their way into the game and began to match the home side. In the 25th minute a Lynsey Burdock shot from 15 yards was tipped onto the bar by the home goalkeeper, before being cleared.

The last fifteen minutes of the half saw Banbury put the City Belles under a lot of pressure but the equaliser eluded them and so it remained 1-0 at the interval.

The second half began, as the first half had ended, with Banbury dominating the game. On 49 minutes Emily Parker got to a long ball down the middle just ahead of the advancing City Belles goalkeeper, only to be unfortunate to see her lofted shot over the custodian go just inches wide. Three minutes later a shot from Debbie Andrews from the edge of the penalty area forced another decent save from the home goalkeeper.

Banbury would continue to dominate the rest of the game and for the most part it looked just a matter of time before they equalised. However, it was one of those days when a goal would just not come though a lot of credit must go to the City Belles team who refused to wilt under what was at times very strong pressure and they did defend well to hold onto their first minute lead and keep their 100% winning league record for this season going, with now four wins from four games.

As for United, it was a frustrating afternoon after dominating the last three-quarters of the game but. as they say, ultimately this game is about putting the ball into the back of the net and City Belles did it once and on this day United’s clinical finishing deserted them.

Banbury United: Katie McLean, Rachel Dunbar, Caitlin Timms, Josie Clark, Charlotte Pitts, Sarah Rhind-O’Neil, Rose Clark, Katerina Poborska, Emily Parker, Jenny Hoggins, Yazmin Holmes. Used Subs (rolling subs): Kate Bullivant, Lynsey Burdock, Debbie Andrews, Heidi Malcom-Day, Natasha Meadows.