This game saw the return to the side of midfielder Anderson Pinto after his planned stint in US football fell through. There was also a starting place for full back Luke Fathers who had made one previous appearance for the club a few weeks back at Hitchin. There was a first league start for young midfielder Carl Tappin but United were without the departed Wayne Blossom.

45 seconds into the game and Tom Rawlings got the better of Tom Fishwick in a tussle inside the Banbury penalty area but his shot from a narrow angle to United's relief then hit the post before coming out.

After this early scare, Banbury found themselves under some pressure as Bedford began to dominate the game. United supporters looked anxiously at the referee in the 18th minute as Fathers clearly tugged at the shirt of Kerran Birch inside the penalty area but nothing was given by the referee.

Banbury to their credit defended well under pressure but showed little going forward in the first half hour of the game. It was not until the 27th minute that the home defence appeared troubled when a Conor Collins corner from the right went straight across the six yard box without anyone touching it.

Bedford went close in the 30th minute when a free kick from the right put into the penalty area fell to Jamie Nicholls but he managed to strike the ball well over the bar from just five yards.

However, Banbury would go on to have a good spell in the last 15 minutes of the half. Carl Tappin found space down the left in the 34rd minute though he was rather unfortunate to see his shot from 25 yards go straight at the home custodian. Banbury certainly had the better of the game in this quarter of an hour and though they were unable to create any clear chances, there were at last some questions being asked of the Bedford backline and some decent play which promised better things to come in the second half.

However, that promise would not bear fruit in the second half as Bedford would go ahead in the 50th minute when the ball was flicked through to Tom Rawlings who then lofted the ball over Scott Dutton from ten yards.

Banbury initially tried to respond but despite pushing forward they did not look likely to find a way through and Bedford looked much more like increasing their lead than Banbury did to snatch an equaliser. The Eagles duly made it 2-0 on 71 minutes when Kelvin Osei-Addo was given time on the edge of the penalty area to turn and then shoot powerfully into the bottom corner of the net.

It was now game over, with United unable to respond and Bedford had a comfortable final 20 minutes.

With Chippenham winning at Truro today, United have dropped into the bottom four and are fortunate that Hinckley United folded mid-season which means only three clubs will be relegated this season. Nevertheless, United are now nervously looking over their shoulders at the revitalised AFC Totton who beat play-off chasers Poole Town today and who with four games left and eight points behind can still overtake and condemn the Puritans to a bottom three place.

Bedford Town: Lee Crocket, Ben Grant, Paul Cooper, Jamie Nicholls (Amos Kabeya 84), Jeff Woodward, Joshua McGoldrick, Robert Parker, Sam Macrae, Tom Rawlings, Kerran Birch (Kelvin Osei-Abbo 60), Jerry Nash (Stefan Powell 64). Subs: Jordan Davies, Luca Seminerio.

Banbury United: Scott Dutton, Luke Cray, Luke Fathers, Kynan Isaac (Lewis Strafford 74), Conor Collins, Tom Fishwick, Claudio Dias, Anthony Obeng, Albi Skendi, Anderson Pinto (Daniel Bevis 80), Carl Tappin (Marcus Green 67).

Attendance: 216