This was a Second Round match Birmingham Senior Cup match – both sides had received byes in the First Round.

Here is a report of the game that appeared in a local newspaper:

If the goal nets at the Spencer Stadium need replacing at the end of the season, then much of the wear and tear will have taken place during three days in November. There were 11 goals at the Stadium on Saturday and another 11 following Monday’s visit of Aston Villa in the Second Round of the Birmingham Senior Cup in which Trevor Berry found the net four times. But who’s complaining? (Note Banbury United Reserves had beaten Kintbury Rangers Reserves 11-0 in the Hellenic League Reserve Premier Division game on the Saturday)

Despite the foggy conditions, those present on Monday evening witnessed a superb display of football from Villa and several players in the visitors’ line-up will surely be knocking on the first team door in the near future. Villa fielded several players with first team and UEFA Cup experience – England under 21 international goalkeeper Michael Oakes, Bryan Small, David Farrell and Chris Boden.

The game, as a contest, was over by half time with Villa leading 4-1 but United can hold their heads up after contributing to a highly enjoyable match watched by just under 2,000 spectators – the biggest crowd at the Stadium for several years.

By the time the fog had lifted United were already 3-0 down as Villa opened the game at a breakneck pace. Trevor Berry opened his account in the first minute. Riccardo Scimeca sped down the left, cut inside Carl Hamilton and when his shot came back off the far post Berry was on hand to turn the ball in.

Tim Williams saved well from Steve Cowe two minutes later but two goals in as many minutes put United on the rack. In the eighth minute Bryan Small and Darryl Mooney combined for the impressive David Farrell to beat Tim Williams and when the United goalkeeper failed to hold onto Cowe’s shot Farrell swept home his second.

United were in danger of being swamped but, to their credit, they plugged away with Michael Oakes tipping over Martin Singleton’s drive and Dave Bristow firing one over. United desperately needed a goal and it arrived in the 27th minute. John Evans crossed from the right and Jody McKay swivelled to fire into the top corner from 10 yards.

The roar that greeted McKay’s goal so nearly became a crescendo a minute later when Evans rose well to crash a header against the bar – McKay should have scored as the ball came back off the bar but Ian Brown blocked the striker’s effort on the line. Had it gone in – who knows? If only……

Urged on by an enthusiastic crowd, United surged forward and Oakes had to be alert to block another shot from McKay. United were enjoying their best spell of possession but Villa came up with the perfect reply in the 38th minute when Farrell raced down the left and his pin-point cross was headed home by the unmarked Berry. The woodwork saved Williams three minutes later when Evans caught the United keeper off his line and Scimeca was then just inches away from converting Farrell’s low cross.

On the stroke of half time Bristow’s header almost caught out Oakes with Carl Hamilton unable to force home the rebound.

United were given the perfect opportunity to reduce the arrears within eight minutes of the restart when Denis Pearce sent Paul Warrington tumbling. Surely Martin Singleton would score? No – Oakes dived to his right to palm the United skipper’s spot-kick around the post. From the ensuing corner Neil Sole headed over.

Berry completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute and eight minutes later crossed for Cowe to volley home the sixth. United came back and Neil Sole grabbed his side’s second goal in the 68th minute – McKay headed on Paul Warrington’s corner and Sole turned the ball in at the far post. A mini-revival? No. Three goals in five minutes put the result beyond any doubt. Scimeca scored from the penalty spot a minute later. Berry grabbed his fourth of the match and Scimeca headed home the ninth.

Would Villa make double figures? The fog came back at the right moment to put a blanket over Tim Williams’ goal. Villa couldn’t see the posts and had to settle for nine.

United boss Wally Hastie said afterwards “Villa put on a great show but we played well and showed everyone that we are a good footballing side. Dave Sexton said we caused them some problems with our crosses and he thought we played some good stuff tonight.”

It was a great evening for everyone at the club and it was good to see a packed crowd at the Stadium again.

Banbury United: Tim Williams, Carl Hamilton, Darren Williams, Neil Sole, Andy Farr, Dave Bristow (Karlton Stratford 60), Darren Reynolds, Martin Singleton, Paul Warrington, John Evans (Ian Castle 60), Jody Mckay.

Aston Villa: Michael Oakes, Darren Evans, Denis Pearce, Bryan Small, Ian Brown, Chris Boden, Trevor Berry, Stephen Cowe, Ricardo Scimeca, Darryl Mooney, David Farrell.

Aston Villa went on to beat Burton Albion in the Third Round, Hednesford Town in the quarter-finals, Paget Rangers in the semis before losing 2-0 to Solihull Borough in the final.

Below are a couple of photos from the night. A full album of 23 photos can be viewed by clicking here. Note these are fan photos and with it being dark and foggy and with technology being somewhat limited back then, the photos have limitations but they do show what a close to 2,000 crowd looked like at the Spencer Stadium. There has not been a bigger crowd at the Spencer Stadium since then! Maybe if spectators had been allowed we might have exceeded that or got close to it for our First Round FA Cup game against Canvey Island this season?

Below is a Banbury United Team Photo from that season, 1994/95. The players are:

Back Row (Left to Right): John Cramond, Jody McKay, Dave Bristow, Neil Sole, Steve Bates, Darren Williams, John Evans, Andy Swann, John Source, Tony Rose.

Front Row (Left to Right): Phil Houghton, Karlton Stratford, Ian Bowyer, Wally Hastie, Martin Singleton, Paul Warrington, Dean Hill.

Banbury United v Aston Villa Programme Extracts: