With the Eagles sitting at the top of the league and with Banbury finding it fairly hard to score, this was always going to be a difficult game for United, but after the opening quarter hour, Banbury blew Bedford away with their best performance of the season so far. The players knew what they had to do, and they did it with plenty of energy and determination.

Banbury already knew a lot about the Bedford right-back Sam Brown and his throw-ins that always land in the six-yard box, but the best defence in the league was not going to be easy fodder for the former United favourite, and whilst they used this ploy throughout the game, Bedford looked anything but top-of-the-league material. As soon as Banbury saw that they were the better team, the writing was on the wall for the Eagles.

United took the lead in the 20th minute following some good approach play from Harry Reilly. He released the ball to Jaanai Gordon on the right who fooled everyone when he feinted to pass but instead hit an unstoppable left foot shot from 15 yards, across the face of the goal and into the far corner. This set the stadium on fire and the celebrations followed, with a mixture of joy and of relief.

Four minutes later, United spurned an even better chance when great work by AJ George resulted him into beating two defenders and screwing the ball back from the bye-line to Reilly. But his point blank volley from inside the six yard box somehow deflected off a defender on the goal line, and spun away for a corner. Banbury’s possession was probably the best that we have seen this season, and they now took control of the game. Although they were by far the better team, they were still a little wary of shooting, preferring instead to keep possession on the edge of the opposition’s penalty area. George Ball was proving to be a thorn in Bedford’s defending midfielder’s side as he looked for a shooting outlet, and AJ’s approach play gave Sam Brown and his left-sided colleagues a very busy evening.

Whatever was in the half-time cuppa worked wonders as the team management’s contribution certainly gave the players that extra confidence, which became very evident after the break, and United were well on top by the hour mark. Connor Ferguson certainly looked a great addition to the squad after his enforced lay-off and he gave a sterling performance as the game progressed.

The all-important second goal arrived in the 77th minute when great work from Ferguson released AJ who jinked past two defenders before shooting low from 10 yards to beat ‘keeper Oliver Bosworth in the right corner.

This victory was no more than the team deserved, and their play was easily the best that has been seen this season. Whilst we could have, and should have, scored another two or three goals, with our stingy defence giving nothing away, maybe we don’t need to worry too much. Having only conceding six goals in the league this season and registering seven clean sheets so far, whilst it is a team game, we do have to be thankful for the best goalkeeper in the league, coupled with the tightest back three, four or five, as being the main reason why we are playing so well. We do have to keep alert though: our next three opponents are all in the bottom five of the league, so we need to work as hard as we are doing against the higher teams, and not be over confident.

Banbury United :- Jack Harding, Tai Fleming, Alex Prosser (81 mins. Claudio Dias), Yaw Ofosu (captain), Nico Jones, Harry Reilly (82 mins. Tom Cartwright), Connor Ferguson, Jaanai Gordon (89 mins. Prince Henry), AJ George (90 + 3 mins. Gedeon Okito), George Ball (85 mins. Charlie Donaldson), Gift Mussa.

Bedford Town :- Oliver Bosworth, Albert Wood, Sam Brown, Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite (77 mins. Henry Dudley), Lewis Green, Devonte Aransibia (63 mins. Ekow Coker), Robert Hall (43 mins. Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo), Elliott Simmons, Dejou Noel-Williams (65 mins. Samuel Tinubu), Leon Lobjoit, Ryan Blake (captain). Sub (not used) Joshua Flanagan.

Attendance - 518

With thanks to Barry Worsley for this match report.