A George Nash goal midway through the first half, followed by some quality and committed defending earns United a win away to morning leaders Chippenham Town.

With Jack Self injured and other players unavailable there were enforced changes from the side that had done well to earn a point at Kettering on Saturday. Manager Mike Ford again opted to start the game with a three man central defensive partnership that had served the club well against Kettering.

Chippenham had slightly the better of the first quarter of an hour of the game but it would be Banbury who would shock the league leaders by taking the lead in the 19th minute. The ball was well worked across from a throw in on the right into the centre where Mark Bell set up George Nash just outside the penalty area in a central position and he fired the ball powerfully into the bottom corner of the net past a static Kent Kaupinnen in the Chippenham goal.

United would though receive a major set-back on 27 minutes when Andy Gunn was sent off for a second yellow card offence following an altercation with David Pratt.

Chippenham dominated the rest of the half and should certainly have equalised in the 38th minute when a cross in from the right saw Matt Jones in plenty of space have a glorious chance to head the ball home from a few yards out but his effort went straight at Jack Harding in the Banbury goal.

However, the second half would see 10 v 10 as Pratt made a poor unnecessary challenge on right- back Jacob Blackstock in stoppage time and the Chippenham striker was sent off for his second yellow card offence.

Despite the evening up of numbers, Chippenham would dominate the second half. However, United would show they could still pose a threat on the break when in the 54th minute a Blackstock shot from the edge of the penalty area was too sharp for Kaupinnen to hold though the loose ball was cleared for a corner. Then in the 69th minute a cross from the right by Blackstock was only partially cleared out to Felipe Barcelos whose shot from 20 yards went just a yard wide of the post.

On 73 minutes substitute Alan Griffin should have done better when heading a left wing cross straight at Harding from five yards out, the custodian saving comfortably.

Banbury though under heavy pressure as the half wore on still threatened on occasions going forward and could have made it 2-0 on 75 minutes when Nash put Barcelos through on goal but his shot from the edge of the penalty area with just the goalkeeper to beat went well over the bar.

Two minutes later and Chippenham were close to equalising once again when Jones shot from the edge of the Banbury penalty area on the left, his low fierce drive going just inches wide of the far post.

Chippenham pushed forward frantically in the last fifteen minutes. Having scored three late goals to win 3-2 at St Ives Town on Saturday they probably believed they could and would still win the game. But Banbury were having none of it defending with commitment and quality. This was characterised a minute from time when Ricky Johnson cleared a goal-bound shot off the goal line.

As well as going into the game as league leaders, this was Chippenham’s first defeat of the season. And though the home side dominated the game in terms of possession a mixture of some wayward finishing but also not inconsiderable fine defending when it was needed contributed to an excellent three points on the road for United.

The win moves Banbury up four places to ninth in the table.

Chippenham Town: Kent Kauppinen, Mark Preece (Andy Jenkinson 80), Nuno Felix (Ryan Campbell 62), Chris Allen, Greg Tindle, Will Richards, Alex Ferguson, James Guthrie (Alan Griffin 46), Dave Pratt, Andy Sandell, Matt Jones. Sub (not used): Jon Beedon

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Jacob Blackstock, Callum White, George Nash, James Fawke, Andy Gunn, Darius Browne (Lester Davies 90), Jack Westbrook, Ricky Johnson, George Jeacock (Leam Howards 59), Mark Bell (Felipe Barcelos 59). Subs (not used) Anton Sambrook, Adam Rimmer.

Attendance: 377