Banbury had the better of the opening fifteen minutes. Zac McEachran had a couple of shots blocked by defenders and Mark Bell shot over the bar from the edge of the area but neither goalkeeper was unduly troubled in this period.

United would though get a scare in the 17th minute when Wimborne went close as James Stokoe put Carl Preston away down the left with his shot from the edge of the penalty area hitting the side netting.

Banbury though upped their game at this point and began to dominate proceedings. On 24 minutes Bell shot just wide from the edge of Wimborne penalty area and three minutes later a cross from the left by Bell was met at the far post by the head of Ricky Johnson but the effort from United’s leading goalscorer was comfortably saved by Jason Harvell.

United were then very unfortunate not to take the lead just sixty seconds later. Excellent control by Callum White out on the right touchline saw him then take the ball down the right hand side before laying it back to Johnson who turned sharply and shot and though Harvell did well to block the effort the loose ball fell to Duran Martin who showed an excellent piece of skill to get away from a defender before seeing his fierce shot from 12 yards smash against the crossbar and come out.

The 32nd minute saw Banbury have a goal disallowed for offside. Video evidence shows that Leam Howards was on side when the ball was played through to him by Martin but the United striker’s competent finish was to be to no avail.

The 35th minute saw a surging run forward down the left by Howards after he had been picked out by George Nash but his shot from a narrow angle was blocked by the legs of Harvell as the custodian came out with Jon Steedman then putting the rebound over the bar from a similar narrow angle.

Wimborne had their best spell of the first half in the last ten minutes. They went close when a corner from the left led to a scramble inside the Banbury penalty area which ended with Preston shooting well wide from 12 yards when he should really have done better.

The first fifteen minutes of the second half were rather uneventful but as the half developed Wimborne improved and it became a much more equal affair.

On 62 minutes United did go close when a cross from the right by Bell was collected by Johnson in the centre who did well to create room for a shot but his effort from 15 yards out went just wide of the far post.

Four minutes later a quickly taken free kick just inside the Banbury half set Preston through on goal down the left hand side but Jack Harding in the home goal did well to save the shot from a narrow angle with his legs at the expense of a corner.

Though Wimborne now looked as likely to find a winner as their hosts it would be Banbury who would make the breakthrough a quarter of an hour from time when Martin knocked the ball through to Johnson down the left hand side of the Wimborne penalty area and though his shot was saved by Harvell, Darius Browne was on hand to strike the rebound home from close range.

In the 81st minute Browne lifted the ball through to Howards from the edge of the Wimborne penalty area and though he showed excellent skill to create the chance by getting the better of defender Ryan Johnson he then shot well wide from just eight yards out.

United would not though have to wait long to double their advantage as just 60 seconds later a corner on the right was taken short to Darius Browne who then took the ball along the bye-line, beating defender Wayne Crutcher before crossing high to the far post where the incoming Andy Gunn headed the ball back across the visiting custodian into the corner of the net.

This win is United’s fifth consecutive league win and though they remain in fifth place in the table the win consolidates their position in the play-off places

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Callum White, Jon Steedman, Duran Martin, Jack Westbrook, Andy Gunn, Mark Bell (Darius Browne 66), George Nash, Ricky Johnson, Leam Howards (Jacob Blackstock 89), Zac McEachran (Ollie Stanbridge 85). Subs (not used): Louis Joyce, Charlie Wise.

Wimborne Town: Jason Harvell, Declan Randall, Wayne Crutcher, Ryan Johnson, Anthony Waters, Jon Blake (Morgan Turner 77), Scott Arnold, Ian Oliver, James Stokoe, Franklyn Clarke, Carl Preston. Subs (not used): Callum O'Hare, Paul Roast.

Attendance: 247