Banbury took control from the opening whistle and should have opened the scoring in the 5th minute but John Mills, after being put clear by Claudio Dias, delayed his shot and the ball was cleared by Charlie Johnson with just 'keeper Finley Iron to beat. Three minutes later and it was Jaanai Gordon's turn to miss an easier chance. After good approach play by Eddie Odhiambo the ball came across from Dias on the right and Gordon, two yards out in front of a open goal, somehow managed to slice his shot wide.

A poor St Ives outfit had no answer to Kynan Isaac, wide on the left. Time and time again he pushed down the wing before passing inside and this looked to be the best chance of success for United as they dominated play. The visitors did well to block a Pablo Haysham effort in the 28th minute when, following his move down the right, he kept possession and drifted across the penalty area before his goal-bound shot was stopped by Johnson.

The impressive Giorgio Rasulo almost broke the deadlock. He received the ball on the left from Isaac after an intricate bit of build-up play, moved inside past both Cameron McWilliams and Thomas Wood and unleashed a right-foot shot which beat everyone except the upright, struck the keeper and bounced away for a corner.

However, Banbury's almost total domination was rewarded in the 42nd minute with a touch of brilliance from Gordon. Rasulo and Isaac, who seemed to be involved in everything down the left, moved the ball forward to Mills. He took it
to the by-line and crossed low for Gordon to cleverly backheel the ball into the net at the near post.

In the first minute of first-half injury time, George Bailey let fly after being pushed wide by Connor Roberts, but his effort was just wide of the post. It was the only dangerous attacking move from the visitors before the interval. It has to be said that this was the most dominant performance seen at Banbury this season, and it was a mystery that United were only one goal to the good. The defence was so much on top that both full-backs, Odhiambo and Isaac, spent more time in the opponents' half of the pitch than their own.

Understandably, St Ives looked to move forward and try to attack as the second-half got under way, and three minutes later, they went close when Ben Seymour-Shove sent in a curling shot that went wide, but the next chance again fell to United in the 61st minute when yet more good play up the right culminated with a great cross from Odhiambo, which found its way to Mills at the far post but he headed wide. Sixty seconds later, Mills was very unlucky when, again following great build-up play by Isaac and Rasulo, his fierce shot from the left hit the crossbar, beating Iron all ends up, before rebounding into play and St Ives were grateful to clear the loose ball.

In the 70th minute, at last Jack Harding was called upon to make a save, and he did well at the second attempt to flick the ball over the bar, following a rasping 20-yard drive from Seymour-Shove.

The final moments of the game produced no more decent chances for anyone, but mention has to be made of the splendid defensive qualities of the team, regardless of who is in the back three, four or five each week, they are still the only team in the division that has conceded at less than a goal a game. If they can get Ricky Johnson fully fit again, maybe the 'goals for' column will improve.

Banbury United:- Jack Harding, Connor Roberts (80 mins. Ryan Nesbitt), Eddie Odhiambo, Kynan Isaac, Jack Westbrook, Giorgio Rasulo, Pablo Haysham, Claudio Dias, Lee Henderson, John Mills (90+2 mins. Charles Hawtin), Jaanai Gordon.
Subs (not used) Kobe Chong, Mohammed Ahmed, Ryan MacDonald.

St Ives Town:- Finley Iron, Cameron McWilliams (74 mins. Daniel Clifton), Ty Ward, Thomas Wood, Ben Jackson, Jarvis Wilson (14 mins. Ben Seymour-Shove), Charlie Johnson, Robert Parker (captain), Dylan Wilson, George Bailey (74 mins. Matthew Foy), Joe Curtis.

Attendance – 318