One might have expected that we might get the backlash from Hednesford's opening day home defeat to Chippenham and unfortunately for us that was indeed the case!

Manager Billy Jeffrey started with the same side as at Cirencester except that Rob Foster came into the side in place of Scott Cross.

Hednesford opened the scoring on 12 minutes when a cross into the goal area was poorly punched by Joe Murrell and it fell to Alfie Carter who slotted the ball home.

The visitors doubled their lead on 20 minutes when a free-kick from just outside the box was taken by Dave Bridgwater and he hit an unstoppable shot right into the top corner of the net.

Banbury had their fair share of the ball for the rest of the half but were unable to break down a very sound "Pitmen" defence.

Banbury probably had their best spell of the game early in the second period but any hopes of a comeback were blown away in the 57th minute when a cross from the right was converted by Aaron Gibson.

In the 90th minute Bridgwater repeated his feat of the first half when a free-kick from further out than his first half goal was again struck perfectly into the top corner.

Hopefully Banbury will not meet sides as good and as on form as Hednesford were tonight every week - or else it promises to be a long hard season!

Banbury United: Joe Murrell, Adam Howarth, Luke Cray, Nathan Haisley, Delroy Gordon, Ross Oulton (Marvin Martin 62), Joe Coleman, Declan Benjamin, Rob Foster (Ollie Stanbridge 70), Jason Taylor (Scott Cross 70), David Staff. Sub (not used): Adam Learoyd

Hednesford Town: Dan Crane, Ben Bailey, Liam Francis, Cheyenne Dunkley, Scott Fuller, Jay Denny, Sean Platt, Dave Bridgwater, Mark Bellingham, Alfie Carter (Odane Barnes 59), Aaron Gibson. Subs (not used): Chris Clements, Jamey Osbourne, Louis Keenan, Stuart Brock