Banbury Utd 2, Dorchester Tn 1
Two goals from Ollie Stanbridge helped Banbury United keep up the pressure on leaders Salisbury, with a well-earned victory in the Dr Martens Eastern Division top-of-the-table clash with Dorchester.
Banbury's Norman Sylla checks on keeper Mark Ormerod
Watched by their biggest crowd for 20 years - 743 - Banbury were grateful to Ady Fuller for clearing Martin Shepherd's half-hit shot off the line on eight minutes.
Banbury's first chance came in the 20th minute, but Liam O'Neill's shot went wide.
Four minutes later, Norman Sylla beat the offside trap, only for his lob to land on top of the net.
Dorchester went close through Andy Harris, before Tricker did well to save at the foot of the post from Justin Keeler.
Tricker again did well in the 27th minute, when he found himself one-on-one with Keeler, forcing the Dorchester striker to slice his effort wide.
Dorchester keeper Mark Ormerod was called into action in the 39th minute when Jimmy Simpson whipped in a low cross to the near post and the Magpies' 'keeper made a fantastic save at the foot of the post to smother Sylla's flicked effort.
United went close in the 56th minute, but George Redknap couldn't get enough power behind his shot and his effort was cleared. It followed good work from Wayne Blossom and Ollie Stanbridge.
Tricker then made a great save from Mark Jermyn in the 63rd minute, before Banbury took the lead through Stanbridge's 25-yard cracker after Jimmy Simpson flicked on Tricker's free kick.
Dorchester threw all three substitutes on in the next quarter-hour, in an attempt to get a goal back, and it paid off in the 80th minute when Simpson lost the ball to a crunching tackle by two Town players on the half-way line. When the ball was played out wide on the left, Matty Groves fired home a well-deserved equaliser.
Dorchester now had their tails up, and started to push hard, but in the 86th minute, United got the winner. Simpson played the ball to Stanbridge, who unleashed a tremendous shot from 25 yards into the top corner.
Banbury: Tricker, Fuller, Blossom, Sullivan, Allen, Simpson (Mason 87), Corbett, Stanbridge, Sylla (Taylor 84), Redknap, O'Neill. Subs not used: Essex, Travers, Wallbridge.
Attendance: 743.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article