Banbury’s management duo of Ady Fuller and Paul Lamb got just the reaction they were looking for after the defeat at Wealdstone on Tuesday and the defection of young Will Green to Brackley on Friday, with this resounding win to complete a 7-0 double over their visitors from the New Forest.

Banbury’s line-up showed a new front pairing of Danny Edmond and Ryan Howell, after the departure of Green, and whilst neither player scored, the re-introduction of Ben Polk into the starting line-up certainly did make a difference to United’s play.

Banbury were the more adventurous early on, with Simeon Williams setting up two chances in the opening 15 minutes, resulting in both Josh Cole and Edmond heading just too high to trouble Bashley ‘keeper Joe Prodomo. Bashley’s solitary chance of the first half was wasted by their captain Dave Allen in the 21st minute when his shot sailed over the crossbar. Then seven minutes before the break, Cole headed into the side netting, and right on half-time Prodomo made a good stop to thwart Edmond.

Banbury upped the tempo after the break, and within four minutes of the re-start they opened the scoring. Howell was fouled on the right and when Glenn Walker’s free kick was headed back into the middle from the far post, Cole rose to head over a crowded goal area and just inside the post for a well taken opener.

An inspired United looked to increase the lead, and they went close in the 58th minute when Edmond showed the greater strength to fen off a challenge and he cut the ball back from the bye-line only to see his cross just evade Howell as it flashed across the empty goal. However, United were not to be denied when they doubled their lead just three minutes later. With half the side attacking, Walker used his undoubted class to delay his 18 yard strike perfectly before rifling his shot home past a bemused Prodomo.

United looked to attack at will as they dominated play and they went close in the 67th minute when Walker was tripped on the edge of the penalty area. Williams was unlucky when his place kick cleared the defensive wall but crashed against the crossbar.

In the 73rd minute, a rampant United went close again when a Walker shot was brilliantly tipped round the post for a corner by Prodomo.

In the 87th minute, the supporters were treated to a great show of skill from Polk when he jinked between two defenders on the edge of the area, side-stepped another defender and bent a terrific shot past Prodomo and into the far corner of the net to register a contender for goal of the season.

If the cameras had been present, another contender for an award occurred in the third minute of injury time when Prodomo would surely have been in the best of gaffes DVD when, under no pressure at all, he managed to fall over the ball giving Aaron Woodley the easiest of chances when he shot into the empty net from the edge of the penalty area to complete the scoring.

Banbury United Line Up: Andy Kemp, Simeon Williams, Tommy Kinch, Liam Dolman, Ben Thackeray, Ben Polk, Joe Coleman, Josh Cole (Ollie Stanbridge 79), Ryan Howell (Aaron Woodley 69), Danny Edmond (Ricky Johnson 85), Glenn Walker. Sub (Not Used): Liam Richardson.

Bashley: Joe Prodomo, Luke Whitley, Matt Finlay, Gary Middleton, Ross Lloyd (Carl Foster 59), Liam Green, Jack Smith (Matt Vokes 66), Dave Allen, Tom Hill (Stefan Penny 57), Mark Gamble, Ian Oliver. Unused Subs: Paul Gazzard, Kieran Burgess.

Attendance: 179