United got off to the best of starts when they took the lead after just34 seconds with Duran Martin striking the ball into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards.

Just a minute later United went close to doubling their advantage but Leam Howards’ shot from close range was saved by the legs of Samuel Gray in the Burnham goal.

United continued to have the better of the game. In the 13th minute Martin went close to grabbing his second goal firing just wide from 20 yards.

At this point Burnham managed to at least get into the game and they really should have equalised in the 20th minute when a corner from the left was not cleared by the Banbury defence and a Burnham player was presented with a clear chance only to screw his shot from eight yards well wide.

United were though soon back in command and in the 26th minute a long ball down the field saw Howards in on goal ahead of Alex Dimitrijevic but he was then bundled over by the defender inside the penalty area with Dimitrijevic being, perhaps a little harshly, shown the red card. Johnson stepped up to take the spot-kick and competently converted low to the goalkeeper’s left.

It was 3-0 in the 38th minute when Callum White went on an excellent run down the right before crossing low into the centre where Johnson struck the ball home high into the roof of the net via the crossbar from 10 yards. Just two minutes later Johnson was close to getting his hat-trick but his venomous shot from 12 yards smashed against the crossbar and came out.

United were comfortable in the second half but had to wait until the 65th minute before extending their lead. Howards went up for a bouncing ball on the edge of the Burnham penalty area and managed to head it on to Johnson who with just the goalkeeper to beat shot home past the custodian from just inside the penalty area to complete his third hat-trick of the season.

United’s final goal of the evening would come in the 79th minute when a corner from the left taken by Zac McEachran fell to Martin on the right 22 yards out with the midfielder striking a quite superb half volley which flew across the goalkeeper into the far corner of the net like a bullet giving Gray no chance and in doing so putting in an early claim for “goal of the season”.

United finished the second half well on top with Gray making an excellent save to deny Martin his hat-trick and then Darius Browne shooting just inches wide from just inside the Burnham penalty area.

This win moves United up to fourth place, albeit that may well only be for 24 hours with other teams playing tomorrow.

Burnham: Samuel Gray, Luke Mann, Alex Dimitrijevic, Max Killman, Danny Pilcher, Haydon Clack, Luke Mulvanay (Nadir Shafi 56), Charles Barton, Jean Claude Ettiene (Richard Worrell 76), Calum Ferguson, Amdrew Hareewood. Sub (not used): Andrew Ingram.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Callum White, Jon Steedman, Duran Martin, Jack Westbrook, Andy Gunn, Ollie Stanbridge (Darius Browne 60), George Nash, Ricky Johnson (Louis Joyce 66), Leam Howards, Mark Bell (Zac McEachran 56). Subs (not used): Jacob Blackstock, Nicholas Kalakoutis.

Attendance: 101