In one of the season’s longest trips, Banbury United were looking to end their dismal run of six games without a win and in a much-changed line-up, they did so in fine style.

The visitors took the lead in just the 8th minute. A fully-fit Connor Ferguson struck a shot from 15 yards, which was diverted on its goalward path by Chris Wreh, who got his foot in to register his first goal since returning to the Puritans last month.

Just three minutes later, United stunned their hosts again, making it 2–0. Home goalkeeper Adam Hayton managed to get his hands to a George Ball shot from the left, but only succeeded in flicking the ball into the path of Ferguson, who powered home a point-blank header from inside the six-yard box.

In the 18th minute, the Blues went close when a cross from Cole Dasilva found Charlie Johnson, but his header drifted wide. Five minutes later, the home side thought they had scored when Nahum Melvin-Lambert bundled the ball towards goal, but both the referee and his assistant ruled that it had not crossed the line, waving away strong appeals.

In the 37th minute, Banbury extended their lead further as Ferguson headed home again from within the six-yard box an almost identical finish to his earlier strike. Four minutes later, Hayton did well to smother an effort from Ball, preventing further embarrassment for his side. Bishops Stortford were no doubt relieved to hear the half-time whistle despite trailing 3–0, they had actually enjoyed the majority of possession.

After the break, the Blues piled on the pressure, but Banbury defended resolutely, limiting clear chances. The best opportunity of the second half fell to Fabio Virciglio, but his 20-yard effort went wide.

The game’s best goal came in the 63rd minute, when Stortford were awarded a free-kick wide on the left. Dasilva swung in a hopeful cross that sailed over everyone and over a bemused Jack Harding nestling into the top corner to pull a deserved goal back for the hosts.

United almost added a fourth in the 79th minute, when Wreh did well to reach a low cross from the left, but his shot from a tight angle struck the crossbar and was cleared to safety. In a lively closing spell, Saleem Akanbi saw his shot deflected into the path of Melvin-Lambert, but Yaw Ofosu produced a brilliant block to deny what looked a certain goal.

To cap a memorable afternoon, in the 84th minute, Wreh with the goal at his mercy, unselfishly squared the ball to Ferguson instead of tapping it in himself. Ferguson gratefully smashed home to complete his hat-trick, sealing a comprehensive 4–1 victory for Banbury.

Bishops Stortford will wonder how they managed to lose by such a margin after having most of the possession, but Banbury’s superior finishing secured a fully deserved three points.

Teams -

Bishops Stortford:

Adam Hayton, Leon Davis, Cole Dasilva, Jake Thompson (captain), Mark Haines, Declan Phillips (67 mins: Marley St Louis), Nahum Melvin-Lambert, Fabio Virciglio, Jack Smith, Saleem Akanbi, Charlie Johnson.

Subs (not used): Tommy Lethbridge, Rekan Field, Eyituoyo Akinbulumo, Harry Forde.

Banbury United:

Jack Harding, Keegan Bloom (73 mins: Luke Stokoe), Aaron McCreadie, Yaw Ofosu (captain), Nico Jones, Connor Ferguson, Peter Abimbola, Chris Wreh (87 mins: Jonathan Lawson), Alex Prosser (90+2 mins: Harley Giles), George Ball (80 mins: Joel Anker), Alex Worley.

Sub (not used): Oskar Wahlen.