United went ahead in the 7th minute when Shepherd Murombedzi was brought down in the City penalty area by Iuean Lewis with Jacob Walcott competently converting the resultant spot-kick, his third of the season.

The next five minutes saw Banbury dominating with a shot from David Lynn deflected over the bar for a corner and then Murombedzi intercepting a poor goal kick from former Oxford United goalkeeper Richard Knight, the ball going to Leam Howards who took it into the City penalty area though his shot from ten yards was off target.

City gradually worked their way back into the game. In the 14th minute Andrew Phillips shot well over from the edge of the Banbury penalty area. Two minutes later the same player headed a corner from the left taken by Josh Dawkin up just over the bar and onto the top of the net. In the 25th minute a fierce shot from Michael King from the edge of the penalty area was well held by Banbury goalkeeper Leigh Bedwell and three minutes later the custodian did well to hold low down to his right a 30 yard free-kick from Danny Kelly.

The 36th minute would see one of the most bizarre incidents at the Spencer Stadium for some time. City’s Andrew Phillips shot at goal when Josh Beech presumably thought he was better placed and this led to an altercation between the two players with Phillips being shown a straight red card for striking out at his team-mate.

Eight minutes into the second half and Banbury had an excellent chance to increase their lead when Murombedzi went on a run down the left before cutting the ball back to Josh Shama in the centre but the Oxford United loanee’s shot from 12 yards went just wide.

Both sides then struggled to create further clear chances as the half developed though City, despite the one man disadvantage, always looked lively up front and it was far from easy for Banbury though they defended well when they needed to.

The last ten minutes of the second half saw City go closest to scoring as they had done all evening. In the 82nd minute Beech cut inside from the right before hitting a left footed shot from the edge of the Banbury penalty area which went just wide of the far post. Six minutes later the Banbury defence struggled to clear a loose ball and Heidar Juliusson shot just inches over the bar from eight yards.

However, having survived these late scares it would be Banbury who would seal the three points with a second goal two minutes into stoppage time. Arron Wickham passed from the left touchline across to Shama who jinked his way into the City penalty area before falling over but he was able to knock the ball, whilst on the ground, over to Aidan Hawtin who shot home from 15 yards past a helpless Knight.

Banbury United: Leigh Bedwell, Callum White, David Lynn (Nkosi Mzungwana 88), Marvin Martin, Tom Fishwick, Jack Westbrook, Jacob Walcott (Arron Wickham 80), Aidan Hawtin, Josh Shama, Leam Howards (Darius Browne 70), Shepherd Murombedzi. Subs (not used): Carl Tappin, Marcus Green.

Cambridge City: Richard Knight, Harry Hickford. Charlie Day, Michael King (Chris Bacon 67). Lee Chaffey, Josh Beech, Ieuan Lewis, Heidar Juliusson, Danny Kelly, Andrew Phillips, Josh Dawkin (Buster Harridine 67). Subs (not used); Adam Martin. Neil Midgley, Charlie Burns.

Attendance: 232