BANBURY United secured second place in Division 1 South & West of the Evo-Stik Southern League with a 2-0 victory over close rivals Taunton Town on Saturday.
The result guarantees the Puritans home ties in the play-offs, starting with their semi-final against Winchester City tomorrow night.
Should Mike Ford’s team win, then they will be at home to either Taunton or Swindon Supermarine in the play-off final on Monday, May 2.
Taunton could have overtaken Banbury with a win, but the hosts were on top from the moment they took the lead in the 15th minute.
A long clearance from keeper Jack Harding found Felipe Barcelos, who outpaced the defence to score from the edge of the penalty area.
Banbury made it 2-0 in the 39th minute when Zac McEachran netted from ten yards after Barcelos’s shot had been cleared off the line.
The held on comfortably in a quiet second half.
Banbury Utd: Harding, White, Hopkins, Stanbridge (Wise 66), Westbrook, Gunn, McEachran, Nash, Johnson, Barcelos (Howards 77), Bell (Browne 81). Subs not used: Martin, Welch-Hayes.
Attendance: 558
North Leigh maintained their proud record of finishing in the top ten in all eight seasons since promotion with a 4-1 victory at home to basement side Bashley.
The hosts missed numerous gilt-edged chances before taking the lead in the 43rd minute when Jamie Cook curled a delightful left-foot shot out into the far corner from 12 yards.
Seconds before half-time, Cook made it 2-0, tapping home after Morgan Williams’s shot had been spilled.
Substitute Elliott Osborne-Ricketts added a third in the 68th minute – the 200th league goal Bashley conceded this season.
Bashley pulled a goal back in the 79th minute, Will Heather firing home a penalty after Sam Elkins had brought down Joseph Kieron
Right on full time the Millers added a fourth through midfielder Lance Williams to ensure their ninth-place finish.
North Leigh: Foster, Elkins, M Woodley, Turk, White (Fullerton 60),Westlake (Brown 70), Else, Hole, Cook (Osborne-Ricketts 45), L Williams, M Williams. Sub not used: Taylor
Attendance: 71
Didcot Town drew 0-0 at Swindon Supermarine in a drab spectacle.
The visitors were ultimately indebted to keeper Leigh Bedwell for preserving the stalemate as he denied Sam Morris and Josh Morse.
Didcot Tn: Bedwell, Collins, Organ, Martin (Self 67), Carnell, Learoyd, Woodhouse, Longford, Janes, Reid (Tanner 73), Barney (Powell 46). Subs not used: Edney, Beer.
Attendance: 223.
Wantage Town finished the season third from bottom after going down 4-0 away to Tiverton Town.
All the goals came in the first hour from Dan Smith (2), Owen Howe and Ben Mammola.
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