Banbury would go close to taking the lead as early as the fifth minute when a corner from the left taken by Mark Bell saw Ricky Johnson's header at the far post headed away off the line by Liam Meredith at some cost to the Shortwood midfielder as after a lengthy stoppage for treatment for an injury he had to be substituted.

Banbury though did not have to wait long to go in front as in the 10th minute Mark Bell found Felipe Barcelos down the left who then turned sharply to beat defender Andy Lewis before crossing from the bye-line low into the centre where the incoming Zac McEachran struck the ball home from five yards past Tom King in the Shortwood goal.

The home side would have much the better of the remainder of the first half. In the 17th minute a corner from the left by Bell cause a scramble in the six yard box but no Banbury player could put the ball into the back of the net and it was cleared. Seven minutes later another Bell in-swinging corner from the left went right across the goal line and just past the far post out for a goal-kick with no Banbury player again able to get on to the end of it.

In the 28th minute a Zac McEachran shot from the edge of the penalty area saw King just manage to knock the ball away low down to his left with the incoming Johnson then firing it high and wide from a very narrow angle on the right.

The 43rd minute would see Banbury have a golden opportunity to double their advantage. Andy Gunn, under pressure, pumped the ball into the penalty area from wide on the left with Tom Moxham then misjudging the bounce and allowing Johnson through in space but with just the custodian to beat Banbury's leading goalscorer managed to shoot straight at King from just four yards out.

Though Banbury goalkeeper Jack Harding had ben a virtual observer for the whole of the half, missed chances meant the home side had to be satisfied with their slender 1-0 lead at the interval.

Shortwood had a better spell early in the second half and had an excellent chance to equalise in the 53rd minute when Nick Hancock closed down Andy Gunn before whipping the ball off the feet of the Banbury central defender and advancing to the edge of the penalty area but with just Harding to beat he shot tamely straight at the goalkeeper and his effort was easily saved.

It would be Banbury though who would get the crucial second goal in the 69th minute when a long ball from Charlie Wise to Barcelos down the left saw the Brazilian show a quick turn of pace to beat Tom Moxham, the Shortwood defender ending up on his backside, before taking the ball inside and striking it from a narrow angle around and past Tom King in the Shortwood goal low into the far corner of the net.

In the 77th minute Shortwood though pulled a goal back when a cross from the left by Will Morford was met at the near post by Jake Lee whose header looped up over Harding into the top far corner of the net.

It was an anxious quarter of an hour or so of play for Banbury Supporters as Shortwood forced them to defend but this they did competently enough to earn the three points and the scoreline could have been more emphatic as in stoppage time Darius Browne put in a cross from just outside the six yard box on the left across to Leam Howards at the far post who got up well only to see his header hit the bar before the ball was hacked away.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Miles Welch-Hayes, Michael Hopkins (Jack Westbrook 46), Ollie Stanbridge, Charlie Wise, Andy Gunn, Zac McEachran, George Nash, Ricky Johnson, Felipe Barcelos (Leam Howards 75), Mark Bell (Darius Browne 87). Subs (not used): Richard Platt, Jacob Blackstock.

Shortwood United: Tom King, Andy Lewis, Matt Bennett, Ed Weeks, Nick Peare, Adam Price, Liam Meredith (Tom Moxham 8), Nick Hancock, Jake Lee, Will Morford, Marley Thomas. Subs (not used): Nial Halford, Alex Sykes, Andy Hoskins.

Attendance: 396