This was a game that United had to realistically win to stand any chance of avoiding relegation and this they did in some style with a 3-0 win over the play-off chasers.

Weymouth began brightly with Stewart Yetton shooting wide from 22 yards after just 70 seconds but after this the half developed into very much a stalemate. There was little between the sides in the first 30 minutes but Weymouth began to have the better of proceedings at this point. Their best chance would come in the 43rd minute when a corner from the left taken by Chris Shephard saw Yetton get his head to the ball ahead of Leam Howards just four yards out but the good chance was missed as his header went over the bar.

However, it would be Banbury who would break the deadlock in the final minute of the half. Some good work from Kynan Isaac on the left hand edge of the Weymouth penalty area saw him make room for a cross low into the centre where the ball went through to the incoming Jacob Daffern down the right hand side of the penalty area and as Jason Matthews came out to narrow the angle he selflessly crossed the ball back into the centre where Carl Tappin knocked the ball home from close range.

United went close to doubling their lead in the 56th minute when Isaac’s cross-field pass from the right set Darius Browne in on goal down the left who then tried to lob the advancing Matthews from the left hand edge of the Weymouth penalty area, only to see his effort hit the side netting. It looked as though this miss might be costly as just minutes later Adam Kelly was brought down by Browne just inside the penalty area but Kelly’s spot-kick was well saved by Leigh Bedwell in the Banbury goal low down to his right.

United would though get the crucial second goal in the 77th minute when a low corner from the right taken by Isaac was poorly defended in the six yard box and Leam Howards hit the ball home from close range at the second attempt.

Bedwell then made an excellent save to preserve United’s two goal lead in the 87th minute, tipping a Shephard shot from the edge of the penalty area away for a corner. The resultant flag-kick was then cleared by Banbury out to Isaac twenty yards inside his own half on the right who then took the ball down the wing, outpacing Jordan Copp to the corner flag where he then took the ball down the bye-line to just inside the penalty area where he was pushed over from behind by Copp. Jacob Walcott competently converted the spot-kick, his 10th successful one of the season.

Things got worse for Weymouth with Copp being booked for too vehemently protesting the penalty kick and obviously he didn’t learn from that as just as 60 seconds later he was shown a second yellow card followed by a red for more words with the referee following another decision which he didn’t like.

It was an excellent second half performance from United.

Biggleswade winning at Bideford was a blow to United’s chances of staying up but they closed the gap on Frome to eight points with a game in hand and the win will boost confidence levels ahead of the visit to Championship chasing Poole Town on Tuesday.

First Half Video Highlights

Second Half Video Highlights

Banbury United: Leigh Bedwell, Jacob Daffern, Darius Browne (Luke Cray 63), Joel Meade, Jack Westbrook, Tom Ryan, Jacob Walcott, Carl Tappin, Leam Howards, Kynan Isaac (Frankie Baigent 90), Shepherd Murombedzi. Subs (not used) Marvin Martin, Tom Fishwick, Scott Smith.

Weymouth: Jason Matthew, Ashley Wells, Neil Martin (Jordan Copp 73), Chris McPhee, Sam Poole, Calvin Brooks, Adam Kelly (Conor Jevon 86), George Rigg, Stewart Yetton, Steve Cowell (Alec Fiddes 64), Chris Shephard. Subs (not used): Jamie Laird, Steve Boore.

Attendance: 284