Thanks to the efforts of the Spencer Stadium ground staff this game was one of only two in the South & West Division that survived the recent wet weather.

United went in front after just ten minutes when Zac McEachran passed the ball across the 18 yard line from the right to Mark Bell in the centre who side stepped a defender before shooting low into the corner of the net past a helpless Edward Cavanagh in the Wantage goal.

Though having the better of the game, United would though have to wait until the 40th minute to find a second goal to extend their lead. United were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area in a central position. This was shockingly defended by the visitors with Bell taking advantage and firing the ball low into the bottom corner of the net for his second goal of the game.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half a floater of a cross from the right by Bell saw McEachran’s header from close range saved by the legs of Cavanagh but McEachran was on hand to knock home the rebound to make it 3-0.

If not over as a contest at half time it certainly was just a minute into the second half. George Nash picked up the ball midway inside the Wantage half and took it forward before unleashing a low drive from 25 yards which skidded along the pitch into the bottom corner of the net.

Banbury seemed to take it rather easy for the next ten minutes and Wantage pulled a goal back in the 57th minute when a deep cross from the right by Piers McGlynn was headed back across goal at the far post by Jimmy Deabill to Aaron Ferris who fired the ball home from eight yards.

Banbury took a while to reassert their authority but in the 76th minute substitute a short corner on the right led to Darius Browne crossing the ball into the centre where it was headed forward from 15 yards out by Andy Gunn to Leam Howards on the six yard line who with his back to goal then turned sharply before firing the ball high into the top corner of the net.

Just 60 seconds after the re-start and Howards would have his second goal. A long ball down the field from Gunn was collected by Browne just outside the Wantage penalty area who then showed great skill to back heel the ball through to the forward running Howards whose shot from 12 yards hit the custodian’s legs before bouncing up over him and into the net.

The last period of the game was all Banbury and they added two more goals.

On 83 minutes a cross from the left by Miles Welch-Hayes was chested down by Ricky Johnson and he then slotted the ball home from eight yards.

A minute later Johnson set Bell away down the right who then cut inside before unleashing a left footed shot across Cavanagh into the far corner of the net from 12 yards out to complete his hat-trick and make the final score 8-1 to Banbury.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Callum White, Miles Welch-Hayes, George Nash, Charlie Wise (Jack Westbrook 65), Andy Gunn, Mark Bell, Ollie Stanbridge, Ricky Johnson, Zac McEachran (Leam Howards 64), Darius Browne (Nicholas Kalakoutis 78). Subs (not used): Jacob Blackstock, Duran Martin.

Wantage Town: Edward Cavanagh, Ryan Elliott, Tai Hulbert-Thomas, James Glover, Sam Collier, Josias Carbon (Piers McGlynn 21 {Ty Leigh 85}), Aaron Ferris, Sam Barder, Jimmy Deabill (Andy Barton 65), Ben Whitehead, Nick Thorne. Subs (not used): Stuart Cattell, Harry Whitehead.

Attendance: 316