Prior to today’s game, Banbury had made ten previous visits to Hardenhuish Park without managing a win but that unwanted sequence would be broken in convincing fashion with first half goals from Joseph N’Guessan and Kynan Isaac giving United a 2-0 win.

There were three debutants in the United side, these were ex Oxford City and Bishops Stortford goalkeeper Warren Carter, wide right midfielder Joseph N’Guessan who is a scholar at Stevenage FC and wide left midfielder Michael Hopkins who joined the club from North Leigh this week, the first two being in the starting line up with the last named coming on later in the game as a substitute.

The opening fifteen minutes of the first half saw Chippenham have more of the possession and look the more likely to open the scoring. However, Banbury defended well with good handling from Carter in the Banbury goal and the defensive central partnership of Jack Ashton and George Allen looking particularly sound.

As the half developed the game became much more even. The home side did though come close to scoring in the 23rd minute when a good piece of sharp inter-passing down the right between a number of players ended with Ashley Williams driving a scorching shot just wide of Carter’s left hand post.

Banbury though always looked lively going forward and got the all important breakthrough on 30 minutes when Chris Lait dinked the ball from just outside the penalty area over the Chippenham back line through to N’Guessan who, in plenty of space and with plenty of time, calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Ben John from around 10 yards.

Chippenham responded to going behind with a spell of pressure but failed to find a way through the Banbury defence. Chippenham then nearly conceded a second goal three minutes before the interval when an attempted clearance by John was charged down by Isaac only for the United striker to see the ball loop up high and go agonisingly inches wide of the post. Chippenham though were seemingly determined to concede another before the interval and duly did so through a comical goal in the last minute of the half. A ball that had stopped just inside the penalty area should have been easy to deal with by either the goalkeeper or central defender Steve Casey both of whom were within a few yards of it. However, with both just looking at it and neither making any effort to deal with it, Kynan Isaac waltzed in and tapped the ball into the empty net. The comedy was not over though as John and Casey then proceeded to have a falling out over whose fault it was with John throwing his gloves at Casey!

The second half was less eventful but it was well controlled by Banbury and they looked the more likely to extend their lead than Chippenham did to pull one back. What little Chippenham had to offer going forward would be dealt with very competently by the Banbury defence.

Having taken the gamble to use all three subs at half time, Chippenham would suffer another setback in the 74th minute when Alex Kite injured himself in a rash tackle, earning himself a yellow card in the process, and was unable to continue. Against ten men it was even more comfortable for Banbury and they saw out the last fifteen minutes to earn a deserved 2-0 win.

All three Banbury debutants put in very promising performances. Warren Carter looked assured in goal, spilt nothing and pulled off a couple of decent saves early in the first half at a time when Chippenham looked dangerous. Joseph N’Guessan caused problems down the right all afternoon and Michael Hopkins, when he came on midway through the second half, made some decent runs down the left and put in some excellent low dangerous crosses, albeit no one got on to the end of them.

It is certainly reasonable to say that it was indeed one of Banbury’s most convincing performances of the season and must promise much for the rest of the campaign.

Chippenham Town: Ben John, Iain Harvey (Adie Harris 46), Jim Rollo, Ashley Williams, Steve Casey, Alex Kite, Toby Osman (Dean Griffiths 46), Scott Lye, Alan Griffin (Lee Phillips 46), Tom Knighton, Brandon Barnes. Sub (not used): Nathan Rudge.

Banbury United: Warren Carter, Luke Cray, Marvin Martin, Jack Ashton, George Allen, Scott Bridges, Joseph N’Guessan (Warren Plowright 90), Albi Skendi, Wayne Blossom, Kynan Isaac (Nabil Shariff 79), Chris Lait (Michael Hopkins 63). Subs (not used): Ryan Plowright, Ashley Dumbleton.

Attendance: 311