After a narrow defeat at home to Poole Town on Saturday, United suffered another loss at the Spencer Stadium, in this their second game of the season, this time going down 3-0 to Hitchin Town.

This was a game that Banbury started well enough, matching the visitors.

In the sixth minute a corner from the left taken by Nic Evangelinos was met by Luke Cray but his shot from ten yards was blocked on the line by Mark Smith in the Hitchin goal.

Three minutes later Simon Martin went close for the visitors, his shot from 12 yards going just wide.

On 15 minutes Nkosi Mzungwana was set up by Simon Noel and though the connection was not clean the ball beat Mark Smith in the Hitchin goal but hit the post before coming out.

The game changed in complexion though on 25 minutes when Lawrence Nuamah in the Banbury goal inexplicably dropped the ball and Charlie Smith then lobbed the stranded goalkeeper.

The visitors made it 2-0 on 38 minutes when a deflected cross from Jonny McNamara was headed in at the far post by Simon Martin.

United looked for a way back into the game at the start of the second half with half chances falling to Jacob Walcott and Nic Evangelinos.

However Hitchin made the three points safe in the 70th minute. A free-kick from the half way line was pumped into the Banbury penalty area. Nuamah came for the ball but failed to get it and it fell to Robbie Burns who struck it home from ten yards.

United had a decent spell in the last 20 minutes though of course the game was now over as a contest. Pushing forward United got caught out and nearly conceded a fourth when Matt Lench lobbed Nuamah only for the ball to come back off the post and though Burns hit home the rebound, the goal was ruled out for off-side.

After a promising performance against Poole on Saturday, this was a disappointment. Though Banbury posed problems for Hitchin going forward, defensively United were less than impressive and Hitchin, like most Southern League clubs at this level will do, made United pay for those frailties.

Banbury United: Lawrence Nuamah, Luke Cray, Nkosi Mzungwana, Lewis Strafford, Jack Westbrook, Shepherd Murombedzi (Odunayou Oke 46), Tanasheh Abrahams, Nic Evangelinos, Leon Simpson, Simon Noel (Jacob Walcott 45), Jordan Adekunle (Kane Vincent-Young 67). Subs (not used): Marcus Green, Joe Osyemi.

Hitchin: Mark Smith, Matt Lench, Ben Walster, Alasan Ann, Dan Webb (Garry Jones 74), David Corran, Jonny McNamara, Lewis Rolfe, Simon Martin (Brett Donnelly 68), Robbie Burns, Charlie Smith. Subs (not used): Michael King, George Ironton, Andrew Osei-Siribour.

Attendance: 196