FOOTBALL: Away win confirms Banbury survival (From The Oxford Times)

FOOTBALL: Away win confirms Banbury survival

10:20am Monday 30th April 2012 in Evo-Stick Southern One South & West Table & Results

Circencester Tn 1

(Bevan 43)

Banbury Utd 3

(Johnson 17, 41, Blake 58)

Banbury United’s Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division survival was ensured with this victory at bottom club Cirencester Town.

Although they needed a point to make sure they stayed up, the Puritans would have survived anyway with other results going their way.

Cirencester were the first to settle, but egged on by an army of travelling support, Banbury weathered the early storm.

They took the lead in the 17th minute when Ben Polk’s corner caused panic in the home defence and Ricky Johnson rose to head home.

Banbury should have gone further ahead in the 18th minute when Josh Blake was through, but he missed the goal when it looked easier to score.

The visitors never had to try too hard after they had moved ahead, but they were resilient at the back, which gave them an air of confidence which spread through the team.

Even when they lost Tommy Kinch to a knee injury ten minutes before the break, they never lost their composure.

They went further ahead in the 41st minute when Johnson latched on to a through ball from Liam Richardson to fire home.

The goal of the game came just three minutes later, and completely out of the blue, when veteran striker Jody Bevan let fly from 25 yards with a shot that flew over the stranded Andy Kemp and into the top corner to bring Cirencester back into the game before the break.

Seven minutes into the second half, Josh Cole hit a post for Banbury with a fierce shot from the right.

However, Ady Fuller’s side didn’t have to wait long to make the game safe when they added a third goal in the 59th minute.

Blake used all his experience and craft to muscle his way past a defender on the edge of the penalty area before hammering the ball into the net from 15 yards.

Try as they did, Banbury failed to add to the score, before the final whistle sparked scenes of celebration from visiting supporters and players alike as their Premier Division status was assured.

Banbury Utd: Kemp, Coleman, Kinch (Richardson 37), Dolman, Thackeray, Howell, Edmond (Kingston 80), Cole, Johnson, Blake (Angus 75), Polk. Subs not used: Forinton, Eyre.

Attendance: 179.