Chippenham Tn 4 (Powell 13, Lye 38, Gullick 45, Griffin 61)
Banbury Utd 0
Banbury were brought down to earth with an almighty bump on Saturday, when they were put to the sword by a physical Chippenham outfit in their Premier Division clash.
With only one change from the side that comprehensively beat Cambridge City four days previously, Banbury looked a completely different side.
Playing down a significant slope, the Bluebirds took control from the start and went ahead in the 13th minute when the unmarked Lewis Powell fired past keeper Joe Murrell from the edge of the penalty area.
Banbury’s only chance of the first half came after Nabil Shariff, in his last game on loan before returning to Rushden, was fouled on the edge of the area.
David Staff fired the resulting free-kick past the defensive wall, only to see home keeper Ian Gill make a fantastic save, pushing the ball, bound for the top corner, around the post.
Chippenham went further ahead in the 38th minute when Scott Lye’s shot deflected onto a post and went into the opposite corner.
The Bluebirds got their third in the 45th minute. A cross from the right found the unmarked Luke Gullick, who headed powerfully home.
Banbury were less benevolent after the break, but Chippenham completed the scoring in the 61st minute when Alan Griffin netted with a crisp drive from 15 yards.
Banbury: Murrell, Stanbridge (Martin 56), McDonald, Gordon, Learoyd, Farquharson, Coleman, Benjamin, Shariff, Konstantinou (Cross 50), Staff. Subs not used: Cray, Nayler.
Attendance: 373.
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