Banbury's winless away run stretched to 15 matches with an emphatic loss at a resurgent Tamworth. Ricky Johnson returned, manager Mike Ford lining him up in central defence with Lee Henderson. Charlie Hawtin remained sidelined with injury, Greg Kaziboni was ill and Edmund Hottor suspended.

A cagey opening saw neither side create any chances until the 13th minute when Tamworth scored. Former Lamb Eddie Odhiambo upended former Puritan Chris Lait close to the left-hand by-line. The resulting cross saw Waite given a free header at the back post as Henderson slipped and his effort went back across the goal and bounced into the far corner.

Despite the setback Banbury settled into their game and moved the ball about well. On 22 minutes a Rasulo free kick saw Johnson in space but his header flashed wide. Two minutes later, however, things tok a turn for the worse. Awash was dispossessed deep in the Tamworth half. A long ball over the Banbury defence fell into the path of Waite. Harding came out of his box to challenge but Waite lobbed him from 30 yards and Banbury were two down.

Three minutes late it was 3-0. Lait advanced down the left hand goal line to strike the ball home at the near post.

Ravi Shamsi tested Singh in the Tamworth goal with a shot from 25 yards but the keeper held it at the second opportunity and Tamworth tested Harding with further pressure after the break.

The second half saw Charlie Wise replace Jack Finch and Ricky Johnson moved up front, This helped create more space for Joe Iaciofano and he got in a header and later a shot, both of which Singh was able to deal with. Iaciofano was then replaced by Ryan Macdonald just past the hour mark and the youngster used his pace to unsettle the home defence, almost setting up Johnson after a run down the right channel.

Late in the game an accidental clash of heads saw Lee Henderson forced to leave the field replaced by Harry Whitehead. After the match Henderson was attended to by paramedics and taken to the Good Hope hospital where a scan showed he had suffered concussion and will miss upcoming matches – we wish him well for his recovery.

There was time for Tamworth to net a fourth in the 87th minute when a corner from the right was played back across the goal for Dwyer to net from close range.

Shamsi kept Banbury going till the end but his efforts for a consolation saw Singh save at the left hand post then tip a shot onto the bar.

Tamworth: 1. Singh, 2. Shaw, 3. Stabana, 4. Beswick, 5. Kettle (C), 6. Magunda, 7. Concannon, 8. Clement (Sub 12. Maphosa 77'), 9. Waite (Sub 13. Gordon 66'), 10. Dias, 11. Lait (Sub 14. Dwyer 56').
Subs not used: 15. Jemson, 16. James.

Banbury: 1. Jack Harding, 3. Matt Taylor, 4. George Nash (C), 6. Ravi Shamsi, 9. Ricky Johnson, 10. Joe Iaciofano (Sub 19. Ryan Macdonald, 62'), 12. Amer Awadh, 14. Lee Henderson (Sub 17. Harry Whitehead, 85), 15. Eddie Odihambo, 18. Giorgio Rasulo, 13. Jack Finch (Sub 5. Charlie Wise 46').
Subs not used: 11. Prudence Anaele, 20. Jamie Heapy.

Man of the Match as selected by Puritans Radio – George Nash

Attendance – 620