With Miles Welch-Hayes required by Oxford United for a youth game, the returning Michael Hopkins slotted in at left back.

Banbury had the better of the opening stages. In the 11th minute a good move down the right involving Callum White and Zac McEachran ended with Felipe Barcelos shooting straight at Sam Gilder in the Bishops Cleeve goal. Banbury continued to dominate but in the 17th minute the home side threatened when Shane Bumphrey crossed from the right though Elliott Kennedy at the far post couldn’t direct his header goalwards.

With heavy rain the pitch was now very hard work for both sides though Banbury continued to look the more likely to make a breakthrough. In the 22nd minute McEachran fired the ball just wide from 20 yards. On the half hour mark Mark Bell was well off target with a 25 yard long range effort.

In the 38th minute United would take a deserved lead when a free-kick 15 yards inside the Bishops Cleeve half on the right hand side taken by Bell was put deep inside the home side’s penalty area with Jack Westbrook sliding in at the far post to knock the ball home from close range.

The opening to the second half saw Bishops Cleeve have a more equal share of the game. In the 48th minute Ricky Johnson shot straight at the home custodian from 20 yards and then in the 56th minute Jordan Bryan for Cleeve shot just wide from the edge of the Banbury penalty area.

It would be Banbury though who would get the all-important second goal in the 58th minute when a good move down the right involving Mark Bell and the overlapping Callum White saw the latter cross low into the centre where the incoming Barcelos knocked the ball home from five yards for his first goal for the club.

It was relatively comfortable for United from this point on though there was a scare for them in the 73rd minute when a cross from the right by Aaron Drake hit the top of the crossbar before going over.

The home side came close to a consolation in stoppage time when a free-kick from wide on the left went through to Bumphrey coming in at the far post but the Bishps Cleeve striker put the ball well over the bar from just six yards out.

Bishops Cleeve: Sam Gilder, Adam Gill (Dan White 73), Leroy Oderio, Harlie Price, Jordan Stoddart, Luke Hitchman, Jordan Bryan, Mike Sholly, Shane Bumphrey, Elliott Kennedy, Ben Maguire (Aaron Drake 66). Subs (not used): Ollie Burness, Lawrence Gorry, Ed Major.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Callum White, Michael Hopkins, George Nash, Jack Westbrook, Andy Gunn, Zac McEachran (Darius Browne 66), Ollie Stanbridge (Duran Martin 79), Ricky Johnson, Felipe Barcelos (Leam Howards 71), Mark Bell. Subs (not used): Jon Steedman, Charlie Wise.

Attendance: 127