United got off to the worst of possible starts going behind in the second minute when Jay Davies broke through and then lobbed the advancing Leigh Bedwell in the Banbury goal.

St Neots continued to dominate and nearly doubled their lead shortly afterwards when a corner fell to Gavin Hoyte whose shot hit the side netting. United failed to threaten St Neots as the half developed and the visitors continued to look more likely to increase their lead than Banbury to equalise with Michael Frew going close and former Puritan Lewis Hilliard and Matt Nolan both being denied by good saves from Bedwell.

United were fortunate to be just a goal down at the break but at least improved at the start of the second period. However, having withstood just a little pressure, St Neots began to control the game once more and on the hour mark it got even harder for Banbury when Wayne Blossom was sent off.

Oddly, United seemed to play a little better now they were a man short though it was still an easy afternoon for Nathan Abbey in the St Neots Town goal as he did not have a save of any note to make in the whole game. United’s best chance probably fell to Anderson Pinto ten minutes from time but from around 12 yards he failed to trouble Abbey, blasting the ball over the bar.

This was a very disappointing performance from United against a side that had only picked up points on the road this season at Bashley and they can have no complaints about the result, having produced such a lacklustre showing for them to have got anything out of this game would have been a travesty of justice.

Banbury United: Leigh Bedwell, Luke Cray, John Mbamarah, Kynan Isaac, Wayne Blossom, Tom Ryan, Dominic Lawless (Aaron Morgan 75), Scott Bridges, Albi Skendi, Anderson Pinto, Adeyinka Talabi. Subs (not used): Kyal McNulty, Marvin Martin.

St Neots Town: Nathan Abbey, David Deeney, Arthur Lee, Ben Ford, Ryan Frater, Gavin Hoyte, Michael Frew (Jake Woolley 71), Ben Farrell, Matt Nolan (Lewis Wilson 83), Jay Davies (Leon Hibbert 86), Lewis Hilliard. Subs (not used): Alasan Ann, Niall Conroy.

Attendance: 271