It was an even first 30 minutes but not very eventful with both sides failing to create any clear opportunities of note. This all changed though in the last fifteen minutes of the half.

Banbury went close to taking the lead in the 32nd minute when Josh Shama put Adeyinka Talabi through on goal but his shot from the edge of the area went just inches over the bar. After this scare Hitchin began to have the better of the game putting Banbury under some pressure and looking dangerous. There were a couple of scrambles in the Banbury penalty area but some last ditch defending and good goalkeeping kept the home side out.

However, it all became much more difficult for Banbury on 43 minutes when Harry Jervis went in for what looked like a 50/50 challenge and appeared to win the ball only for the referee to show him a straight red card for what the referee presumably deemed a dangerous challenge. Banbury though managed to hold out to half time under severe pressure.

The second half began as the first half ended with Hitchin dominating and in the 50th minute they went ahead when a corner taken by Robbie Burns from the right saw a free header at the far post by Dan Webb.

Banbury responded well to going behind especially considering they were a man short and began to ask some questions of the Hitchin defence. Banbury went very close to equalising in the 64th minute when Carl Tappin put Leam Howards through on goal but a super fingertip save from Tahj Bell at the expense of a corner denied the Banbury striker.

Having gone so close to equalising, Banbury would though then gift a second goal to Hitchin on 68 minutes when they gave the ball away needlessly inside their own half and with numbers short defensively the home side took full advantage and a neat passing move ended with Burns shooting home from 12 yards.

Despite now being 2-0 down, Banbury did not let their heads drop and played some good football going forward in the last twenty minutes and looked more likely to score than at any other time in the game but unable to find a way through the score remained 2-0 at the final whistle.

On the positive side Banbury’s performance was much better than Saturday at Chippenham. Despite a third consecutive league defeat it is not all “doom and gloom” at the Spencer Stadium.

Hitchin Town: Tahj Bell, Lewis Rolfe, Ben Walster (David Corran 74), Alasan Ann, Dan Webb, Sam Barker, Jonny McNamara, Matt Lench (Simon Martin 81), Brett Donnelly (Michael Noone 90), Robbie Burns, Charlie Smith. Subs (not used): Tanashe Chabata, Michael Johnson.

Banbury United: Leigh Bedwell, Luke Cray, David Lynn (Nkosi Mzungwana 76), Marvin Martin, Callum White, Jack Westbrook, Jacob Walcott (Carl Tappin 44), Harry Jervis, Josh Shama, Adeyinka Talabi (Leam Howards 59), Darius Browne. Subs (not used): Tom Fishwick, Declan Hartigan.

Attendance: 288