With a number of players unavailable, Banbury manager added to the bench former Northampton Town youth midfielder Nick Kingston and also promoted Craig Robinson, who has been impressing in the reserve side, to the bench.

The contest began fairly evenly but as the half developed it was Banbury who began to have more of the possession and to have the better of the game. On 15 minutes a cross from the right by Simeon Williams was smashed against the woodwork by Aaron Woodley.

Though Banbury were now looking the better side it took a decent save from Andy Kemp on 23 minutes from Sakho Bakare to keep the score 0-0. On 30 minutes a cross from Ben Polk was met by Justin Dowling and Nick Jupp in the St Albans goal did well to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.

There hadn’t been too many clear cut chances for either side in the first half and it ended goalless.

St Albans began the second half much better and began to have as much of the ball as Banbury and look lively going forward though both defence continued to look reasonably sound.

However in the 64th minute after a long stoppage for the injured Liam Dolman (which looked serious with an ambulance being later called) St Albans went rather asleep virtually straight from the re-start with a defensive lapse allowing Green through and he competently slotted the ball home past Jupp.

A minute later Bakare somehow missed an open goal for St Albans blasting the ball wide when it seemed impossible not to score.

This was a touch of fortune for Banbury and they had a great chance to make it 2-0 just two minutes later when Jupp was adjudged to have brought down Woodley when going for goal. It was a clear goal scoring opportunity and Jupp was accordingly sent to the dressing room. The spot-kick was taken by Green himself though Ryan Moran who had gone in goal made a fine save to his left.

Banbury did not though have long to wait to make the man advantage count as on 71 minutes Woodley was put through and he slotted the ball past Moran to make it 2-0

There was no way back now for 10 men St Albans and not surprisingly Banbury dominated the last 20 minutes or so of playing time.

It was another good performance from Banbury against what one would expect to be at least a top half side. At times the game could have swung the other way but overall it was a deserved victory for the home side who played some decent football.

Detailed match report to follow tomorrow

Banbury United: Andy Kemp, Simeon Williams (Nick Kingston 82), Ben Polk, Ben Thackeray, Liam Dolman (Tommy Kinch 63)Martin Hutchcox, Ollie Stanbridge, Joe Coleman, Will Green (Craig Robinson 86), Aaron Woodley, Justin Dowling. Unused Sub: Paul Lamb

St Albans City: Nick Jupp, Barrie Matthews, Nathan Ralph, Marvin Alebiosu, Matt Cutchey, Ryan Moran, Danny Hart, Rob Magwood, Sakho Bakare, Nathan Haisley, Sean Shields. Subs (used and unused to be sorted out later): Jerome Walker, David Ijaha, Matt Pooley, Rob Howarth, Joakim Ehui.

Attendance: 269