This was a game that Banbury began well enough but it was Poole who would make the early breakthrough when in the 12th minute Richard Gillespie ran through the middle from just inside the Banbury half to the edge of the penalty area before slotting the ball home past Scott Dutton.

From this point Poole would go on to dominate the half. However, efforts cleared off the line, some last ditch defending and missed chances meant Poole had to wait until the 35th minute to make it 2-0 when a cross from the left was headed home by Gillespie for his second of the game.

Four minutes into the second half and a Claudio Dias free-kick forced Dan Thomas to save low down to his left but within 45 seconds a quick break saw a Poole player bundled over inside the Banbury penalty area for a clear penalty. Gillespie stepped up to convert the spot-kick with some aplomb to complete his hat-trick.

On the hour mark it was 4-0, a cross from the left was knocked home by Gillespie for his four-timer.

It was of course all over as a contest but to their credit Banbury battled well in the last half hour and had their fair share of possession in the remainder of the game and pulled a deserved goal back in the 86th minute when Tanasheh Abrahams put Claudio Dias through down the centre and the Northampton Town loanee struck the ball from the edge of the penalty area into the bottom corner of the net.

Overall, it was very much a case of “men against boys” but you cannot fault the effort of all those players who made the long trip for a midweek game to represent the club against a very good and experienced side.

Poole Town: Dan Thomas, Luke Burbridge, Neil Martin, Jacob Wannell, James Whisken, Marvin Brooks (Dan Cann 55), Jon Davies, Steve Devlin (Charlie Davis 55), Richard Gillespie, Jordan Chiedozie (Michael Charles 58), Ekow Elliott. Subs not used: Carl Preston, Nick Hutchings.

Banbury United: Scott Dutton, Luke Cray, Tanasheh Abrahams, Adeyinka Talabi, Claudio Vilcu, Tom Fishwick, Anthony Obeng, Jamal Hackett (Marcus Green 51), Albi Skendi, Ashley Dumbleton (Carl Tappin 53), Claudio Dias. Subs not used: Conor Collins, Lewis Strafford.

Attendance: 216