A first half hat-trick from Ricky Johnson set Banbury on the way to three points in front of a bumper crowd of 463 on Non-League Day and designated "Family Day" at the Spencer Stadium.

Banbury made a rather tentative opening to the game with Mangotsfield having the better of the opening ten minutes. However, as the half developed the home side began to get the upper hand and took the lead on 19 minutes when a lofted ball from Darius Browne sent Leam Howards away down the left who got the better of first Alex Kite and then Marcus Mapstone before crossing low into the centre from close to the left bye-line to Ricky Johnson who knocked the ball home from close range.

Mangotsfield had a good chance to equalise in the 23rd minute when a cross from the right by Steve Davies was headed over the bar by Lewis Powell from just five yards out. Five minutes later a 22 yard shot from Banbury’s Zac McEachran flew just over the bar.

Banbury were now though having the better of the game but had to wait until the 41st minute to get that all-important second goal. A long ball from Andy Gunn deep inside his own half was headed on by McEachran from ten yards inside the Mangotsfield half into the path of Johnson who through on goal took the ball forward to 12 yards out before slotting the ball past the advancing Kieran Preston in the visitors’ goal into the bottom corner of the net.

The final minute of the half saw good play in midfield between debutant George Nash, Duran Martin and McEachran which set Browne through down the left who then took the ball forward close to the bye-line before cutting it back into the path of Johnson who smashed the ball into the top of the net from six yards out to complete his first half hat-trick.

Banbury were very close to opening up a four goal margin just two minutes into the second half when a free-kick from wide on the right taken by McEachran was headed forward by Gunn to Howards but his shot from close range was superbly saved by Preston. The loose ball was then picked up by Johnson on the bye-line on the right and knocked back into the middle where Jon Steedman’s shot from a narrow angle was turned into the net right on the goal line by Howards but he was in an off-side position.

However, in the 53rd minute Mangotsfield pulled a goal back when a free-kick from the right was put into the Banbury penalty area but only cleared as far as Ryan Batten on the edge of the penalty area whose fierce low shot flew past Harding into the back of the net.

On the hour mark Mangotsfield went close to reducing the deficit further when substitute Ben Brooks shot from 25 yards with Harding appearing to have made a decent save low down to his left only for the ball to pop out of the custodian’s hands backwards and hit the post before bouncing back into his grateful arms.

If this had gone in then the game might have had a different ultimate outcome but after this Banbury were not unduly troubled until the fifth minute of stoppage time when a 25 yard free-kick from Lewis Hogg smashed against the bar before coming out.

The win extends Banbury’s run of league games without defeat to nine and moves them up to eighth place.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Callum White, Jon Steedman, Duran Martin, Charlie Wise, Andy Gunn, Zac McEachran, George Nash, Ricky Johnson, Leam Howards (Louis Joyce 76), Darius Browne (Nicholas Kalakoutis 85). Subs (not used) Bradley Cox, Bradley Partner, Jacob Blackstock.

Mangotsfield United: Kieran Preston, Lewis Shipp, Ryan Batten, Marcus Mapstone, Alex Kite, Brad Abraham, Steve Davies, Lewis Hogg, Elliott Gibbons (Ben Brooks 56), Lewis Powell, Karim Rendall. Subs (not used): Ryan Bath, Scott Brice, Kane Mannings.

Attendance: 463