There was an early chance for United in the 8th minute when a quickly taken free-kick by Zac McEachran sent Callum White away down the right whose low cross into the centre was met by the incoming Leam Howards but the striker failed to connect properly at the six yard line and his shot went wide.

Just sixty seconds later Yate went close when a cross from the left by Jake Cox was headed just wide at the far post by Darren Edwards.

The first 20 minutes of the game had seen United have slightly the better of the game and they would make the breakthrough in the 21st minute when a Zac McEachran corner from the right saw Ricky Johnson up above the Yate defenders at the far post to head the ball down and into the bottom corner of the net.

Six minutes later United had a good chance to double their advantage when McEachran put the ball through to Howards down the right hand side of the Yate penalty area but in on goal he shot weakly at Ben Reed in the Yate goal from eight yards out and the custodian was able to knock the ball away for a corner at the near post.

Yate finished the half well though. On 43 minutes a 20 yard shot from Edwards went just wide of the post. United though seemed determined to give Yate a goal at this point as from the resultant goal-kick a short kick out from goalkeeper Jack Harding to Charlie Wise went terribly wrong but the Banbury custodian did exceptionally well to then deny Nathan Gore by spreading his body and blocking the shot from the Yate man as he let fly from 12 yards.

On the balance of play and certainly on chances created it was a deserved lead for United at half time.

Two minutes into the second half Banbury’s Duran Martin won the ball in midfield before passing to Howards who knocked the ball through to Johnson. United’s leading goalscorer competently struck the ball past the goalkeeper from 12 yards out into the top corner of the net but the Assistant Referee’s flag had been raised for off-side.

On the hour mark a free-kick from wide on the left taken by McEachran led to an almighty scramble around the Yate six yard box but no Banbury player could put the ball in the back of the net and it was eventually cleared.

In the 70th minute Yate had a glorious chance to equalise when a Callum Laird low cross from the right was met by the incoming Jake Cox at the six yard line but he somehow managed to put the ball wide when it looked easier to score.

This began a good spell for Yate. Four minutes later a corner from the left taken by Nathan Gore saw Callum Laird head the ball just over the bar when he should probably have done better.

Yate were looking likely to find an equaliser at this point but Banbury always looked dangerous on the break and seven minutes from time the all-important second goal to effectively seal the win arrived. George Nash knocked a high ball down the centre for McEachran to chase. Though Callum Laird had a few yards start of the United man he hesitated for a second expecting Matt Villis to move for the ball which gave McEachran with his pace enough time to get ahead of the defender and he then took the ball to the edge of the Yate penalty area before superbly striking it into the bottom corner of the net past the despairing dive of Reed.

United finished the game on top. In the 88th minute a good move down the left involving Louis Joyce and McEachran saw the latter’s low cross into the centre met by Mark Bell but his shot from 12 yards was well blocked by Jamie Laird at the expense of a corner. Then deep into stoppage time Joyce’s 25 yard shot went just wide.

There wasn’t a lot between the sides in this game and until the second goal went in it was never comfortable for United. It is a game of fine margins and if Yate had taken one of their two clear chances midway through the second half the ultimate outcome may have been very different. But it is another three points for United which takes them up to fifth place in the table and into the play-off places.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Callum White, Ollie Stanbridge, Duran Martin, Charlie Wise, Andy Gunn, Zac McEachran, George Nash, Ricky Johnson (Mark Bell 72), Leam Howards (Louis Joyce 65), Darius Browne (Jon Steedman 46). Subs (not used): Jacob Blackstock, Nicholas Kalakoutis.

Yate Town: Ben Reed, Callum Laird, Jake Cox, Nathan Gore, Matt Villis, Jamie Laird, Alec Fiddes, Brett Trowbridge, Darren Edwards (George Box 67), Jake Jackson, Tom Warren (Kane Ingram 53). Sub (not used): Lewis Fogg.

Attendance: 280