Banbury United U18s were back in league action after a weather inflicted week off. Unfortunately the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium was still unplayable following the flooding that followed the heavy rainfall we have had over the last couple of weeks. So the match was moved to Easington Park on what was a lovely morning for football.
Strachan Football Foundation were the opposition, and although now England Manager Lee Carsley wasn't coaching the side this season, they still had a wealth of knowledge and experience on the sideline with former Dundee United and Partick Thistle player and Coventry City coach George Mackie taking the side.

Banbury United started very brightly, and in truth never looked back in what was a dominant display against the Coventry based outfit.
Olly Edmunds, Lukas Wahlen and Tyra Aitken all having early chances before the deadlock was broken.
The first goal arrived in the ninth minute. Banbury took a throw in on the left side of the penalty area Lukas did well to jump and win the flicked header, and the ball fell nicely to Seb Kola who half volleyed perfectly into the top corner of the net 1-0.

The Strachan FF No 4 was shown a yellow card for scything down Tyra Aitken as he burst through the heart of the defence, and Brook Da Silva Lobato was creating good opportunities for the team, picking up good spaces behind Tyra and threading through balls through. Further opportunities came and went for Tyra who saw the Strachan FF keeper make a couple of really good saves 1on1. Lukas hit a free kick low and hard, that was well saved by the keeper also.

The second goal arrived in the 28th minute. As Lukas surged through the midfield the Strachan No 5 was very lucky to only receive a yellow card for a high studs up challenge into Lukas's knee/thigh. The referee choosing to just show a yellow. The resulting free kick however did punish Strachan FF as Seb Kola chipped a lovely ball into the box, Olly Edmunds ran off his marker and looped a side footed effort over the keeper and into the corner of the net 2-0.

Two soon became three, deliveries into the Strachan FF box were causing problems all morning, and this time a corner fell invitingly for Lucas Webb to volley through a crowd of players and into the net. 3-0 at half time, and no more than the team deserved.

The second half, panned out in a similar fashion, although the flow of the game was punctuated with multiple changes, and players were moved into unfamiliar positions, which all helps with their individual and collective development. Strachan FF had a bit more of a threat and Jacob Humphries in the Banbury goal, did have to make a couple of smart saves to preserve the three goal cushion.

Leo Anderson who had come onto the pitch for Tyra in attack, was played through with a lovely outside of the boot pass by debutant Ellis Boyes, he outpaced his marker, but the keeper made a great stop low down. From the resulting corner though Leo was not to be denied. Seb floated in a lovely cross into the box that Leo met well with his head. The keeper got a hand to it, but could only push the ball into the back of the net 4-0.

Strachan had their two best opportunities of the match, in the closing minutes of the game. Firstly their centre forward hit the outside of the post from close range, and then from a cross into the box an unmarked header went wide of the post.

The final goal of the game arrived in the 90th minute. Brooklyn Da Silva Lobato took up the ball in midfield, beat two or three men with lovely close control before hitting his low shot into the corner of the net for 5-0.

An excellent mornings work from the team, in what was a really good all round performance. Strachan FF are a good side, and had won their first two league games of the season convincingly but Banbury Utd U18s overpowered them today with a high quality display all over the pitch.

Next week the side travel to Solihull for a tough fixture against Silhill Football Club.

Full Time
Banbury United U18 5 Strachan Football Foundation U18 0
Goalscorers - Seb Kola, Oliver Edmunds, Lucas Webb, Leo Anderson, Brooklyn Da Silva Lobato
MOTM - Oliver Edmunds