There were three changes from the side that had performed admirably at Frome the previous week. Luke Cray returned from holiday at right back in place of Leo Agathangelou, new signing Joel Meade came in a centre-half in place of Lewis Strafford and Shepherd Murombedzi returned to the side meaning Darius Browne had to be content with a place on the bench.

The fourth minute of the game saw early promise from United when Aidan Hawtin sent Josh Shama through on goal but Alan Walker-Harris was alert enough in the Dorchester goal to come out and force the Oxford United loanee wide and the chance was gone.

In the tenth minute Banbury’s Shepherd Murombedzi cut in from wide on the left and unleashed a fierce shot which the visiting custodian could not hold but the rebound was cleared and within ten seconds Dan Smith had been put through on goal at the other end but new signing Joel Meade had the pace to get back and nudge the ball away for a corner just before the Dorchester man could get a shot in. A minute later and Shama went on an impressive mazy run along the left bye-line beating two defenders but Walker-Harris seeing the danger came out to smother the shot.

The 16th minute saw Alex Godfrey put through on goal but Luke Cray got across to block the shot and United goalkeeper Leigh Bedwell was untroubled as he picked up the loose ball.

United would break the deadlock on 28 minutes when Oakley Hanger received a throw-in just inside his own half but then despite apparently having plenty of time then had the ball knicked off him by Shama who in on goal took the ball forward to inside the Dorchester penalty area before firing the ball past Walker-Harris from 12 yards.

In the 40th minute Shama ran along the right bye-line before driving the ball across the six yard area but the ball went just behind the incoming Jacob Walcott who was thus unable to get the touch to knock it home. United did not have to wait long to notch their second goal though as a minute before the interval Shama passed the ball from wide on the right over to Murombedzi wide on the left who then cut inside to the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a glorious shot which flew into the far top corner of the net giving Walker-Harris no chance.

Dorchester got right back into the game three minutes into the second half when a long throw from the right by Dan Cann right into the six yard box saw Nathan Walker get the faintest of touches to carry it into the back of the net.

Three minutes later and United went close to restoring their two goal lead when a 25 yard on target volley from Jack Westbrook saw Walker-Harris do well to get down low to his left to push the ball away before it was cleared.

Dorchester should have equalised on 63 minutes when a corner from the right by Jake Smeeton saw a free header for Dan Cann at the far post but the former Poole Town man could only find the side netting.

Midway through the half Leigh Bedwell made a superb point blank save from a Cann shot though it would not have counted had it hit the back of the net as the flag was raised for off-side.

The final twenty minutes saw Dorchester put Banbury under some pressure with a number of long throws from Cann but United, albeit not totally convincingly at times, successfully defended them and held out for the three points.

Whilst there will much harder tests for United over the coming weeks this was performance which got the Spencer Stadium crowd fully behind the team with singing and chanting being heard for the first time for a very long time. It promises much for the rest of the campaign.

Banbury United: Leigh Bedwell, Luke Cray, Nkosi Mzungwana, Joel Meade, Tom Fishwick, Jack Westbrook, Nic Evangelinos (Leam Howards 58), Aidan Hawtin, Josh Shama, Jacob Walcott (Darius Browne 87), Shepherd Murombedzi (Elias Katsoloudi 90). Subs (not used) Ciaran Houston, Carl Tappin.

Dorchester Town: Alan Walker-Harris, Sam Lanahan, Callum Buckley, Jake Smeeton, Nathan Walker, Oakley Hanger, Jason Brookes, (luke Woodland 74) Will Agbo, Dan Cann, Alex Godfrey, Dan Smith. Subs (not used): Tony Rolls, Ben Joyce, Sam Smith, Shane Murphy.

Attendance: 263

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