Banbury United 1 Barton United 3

Banbury competed well against higher level side Barton United but two late goals sealed the visitor's place in the Oxfordshire Women's Cup semi-final

Barton had the better of the opening 15 minutes but failed to trouble the home custodian. However, they should have gone in front in the 18th minute when a corner from the left saw the ball then put well over the bar from just five yards out. But just three minutes later the Oxford side went in front when another corner from the left was knocked in from close range by Charlotte Conley.

Banbury defended well in the next period of the game with neither side creating anything of note in the way of chances. However, late on in the half Banbury began to ask a few questions of the visitors and in the final minute Rochelle Buick passed the ball inside from the right to Emily Parker who let fly with a shot from 22 yards, the home custodian doing well to hold on to the home forward’s effort.

Banbury began the second half well though and it developed into an even affair. It was thus not entirely a surprise when Banbury equalised on the hour mark. A throw-in from Josie Clark down the right was picked up by Buick who passed the ball inside to Debbie Andrews who showed a neat bit of skill to beat a Barton defender before striking the ball from the edge of the penalty area over the visiting custodian into the corner of the net.

The goal was a big boost to Banbury and they would have much the better of the next ten minutes with both Parker and Kailey Hardy shooting wide from narrow angles.

However, rather against the run of play at this point, Barton would grab a second goal on 72 minutes via an own goal and five minutes later Beverley Hirons got the all-important third goal which sealed the Thames Valley Division 1 side’s progression to the semi-finals of the Oxfordshire Women’s Cup.

Though exiting the competition, Banbury can take some comfort that should they earn promotion this season then competing at Barton United’s level certainly does not look beyond them.

Banbury United: Katie McLean, Rachel Dunbar, Caitlin Timms, Jenny Hoggins, Sarah Rhind-O’Neil, Charlotte Pitts, Heide Malcom-Day, Josie Clark, Debbie Andrews, Rochelle Buick, Yazmin Holmes. Used Subs: Kailey Hardy, Emily Parker, Rosie Clark, Lynsey Burdock.