Banbury Utd 2 (Gordon 28, Bridges 77)

Tiverton Tn 1 (Hinshelwood 79)

Banbury moved into the top half of the Premier Division table, but made heavy weather of their victory against ten-man Tiverton.

They had their first chance in the fourth minute when Nicky Gordon forced Tiverton keeper Ray Johnston into a great save.

Banbury went in front on 28 minutes when Gordon used his pace to good effect.

Nathan Rudge's backpass never reached Johnston on the edge of the penalty area, and Gordon nipped in between the two to place the ball into an empty net.

Four minutes later, following a heavy tackle by Lewis Travers, Radley Veale was sent off for stamping in retaliation.

Banbury went close again in the 37th minute, Scott Bridges hitting the side-netting following a four-man move.

Johnston started the second half nervously.

Firstly he mis-handled a ball to Bridges, but he shot wide, then shortly afterwards, Matt Villis made a last-ditch tackle to deny Gordon after Johnston's poor clearance.

As the game wore on, it was difficult to see who had the ten men as Tiverton pushed Banbury into their own half.

But the home side stood firm, and in the 77th minute, they increased their lead.

Keeper Andy Wheeler picked out Gordon wide on the right, and he did well to outpace the Tiverton left back, before pulling the ball back from the bye-line into the path of Bridges who netted from two yards to put Banbury 2-0 up.

Tiverton pulled one back two minutes later, Paul Hinshelwood's 25-yard free-kick taking a wicked deflection over Wheeler into the net.

Banbury Utd: Wheeler, Travers, Kinch, Essex, Blossom, Fuller, Feely, Nicholls, Scott Bridges, Gordon, Stanbridge. Subs not used: Stuart Bridges, Gooderick, Ibrahim, Sambrook, McKay.

Attendance: 400