It was an equal opening to the game but at the ten minute mark Hitchin began to dominate heavily and with them looking very nifty going forward it looked as though a goal was coming. That goal would duly come on 13 minutes when a corner from the right was knocked home from a few yards out by Brett Donnelly.

Hitchin continued to have much the better of the game and on 25 minutes made it 2-0 when a shot from a central position on the edge of the Banbury penalty area from Brett Donnelly was well saved by Jack Harding low down but Matt Lench was on hand to knock the rebound home from close range.

A minute later Lewis Rolfe fired the ball just inches wide from 25 yards.

On 32 minutes Banbury's best opening of the first half saw a free kick from wide on the left by Mark Bell fall to Mark Janes at the far post but his downwards header from three yards out was saved by the legs of Michael Johnson in the Hitchin goal.

Banbury were improved at the start of the second half. In the 49th minute a cross from the left by Janes and Ricky Johnson's dinked shot from 12 yards went just over.

Then in the 56th minute good play down the right by Felipe Barcelos saw his cross headed just over by Johnson.

On 65 minutes Hitchin went close to increasing their lead further when Robbie Burns forced Harding into a decent save low down to his right.

Banbury huffed and puffed in the last twenty minutes but didn't create too much to worry the home defence though on 80 minutes a 25 yard free-kick from Duran Martin had to be tipped over the bar by Johnson at the expense of a corner.

On 86 minutes Hitchin could have put the result beyond any doubt when Rolfe put Josh Coley in on goal but the substitute put his shot across Harding from a narrow angle on the right but wide of the far post.

A minute later though and the home side did put the result beyond any doubt when a cross from the right by Kane Smith saw an excellent diving header from the incoming Robbie Burns into the bottom corner of the net giving Harding no chance.

A minute from time and Banbury got a consolation goal when substitute Leam Howards got onto the end of a long through ball from Darius Browne and competently struck the ball past Johnson from 12 yards.

Whilst Banbury were better in the second half it was over the 90 minutes a fully deserved and comfortable win for the home side with the pace and good ball play of their attacking players always looking to have more goals in them.

Hitchin Town: Michael Johnson, Kane Smith, Josh Bickerstaff, Will Wright, Dan Webb, Lewis Rolfe, Matt Lench, Callum Donnelly, Brett Donnelly (Alfie Barker 90), Liam Brooks (Josh Coley 83), Kieran Barnes (Robbie Burns 63). Subs (not used): Callum Riley, Tom Bryant.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Callum White, David Lynn, George Nash, Jack Westbrook, Andy Gunn, Mark Janes, Jack Self (Duran Martin 63), Ricky Johnson, Felipe Barcelos (Leam Howards 75), Mark Bell (Darius Browne 58). Subs (not used): Jacob Blackstock, James Fawke.

Attendance: 350