Striker Will Green scored the winner as Banbury United made it four Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division victories on the spin with a 1-0 triumph against derby rivals Oxford City at Court Place Farm yesterday.

With both sides having won three games in a row, it was always going to be a close affair, and so it proved with Will Green’s clinical strike the difference as Banbury moved up to third in the table.

City started the stronger, with Banbury keeper Andy Kemp palming away Josh Green’s header from a corner.

At the other end, Aaron Woodley should have given Banbury, who were without ankle-injury victim Liam Dolman, the lead, but he fired wide of Jason Mooney’s goal.

Steve Basham then had a header cleared off the line by Simeon Williams, before a snap-shot from Felipe Barcelos was well held by Kemp.

And Kemp was again called into action when he tipped Josh Green’s header from an Andy Ballard long throw over the bar.

After the break, City tried to turn up the pressure, but found Banbury’s defence, superbly marshalled by Ben Thackeray, a tough nut to crack.

City boss Mike Ford brought on Lee Steele and Declan Benjamin to pep up the attack and it almost paid off, with Steele’s through ball finding Barcelos, only for the Brazilian to be flagged offside.

But just as City were pushing forward, a quick break saw Banbury take the lead in the 57th minute. Woodley seized on some hesitancy in the City backline and burst down the right before his pass was sidefooted home by Will Green.

Seconds later, Mooney got a hand to a piledriver of a free- kick from Joe Coleman, before a brilliant block from James Clarke prevented Will Green from making it 2-0 as Banbury started to get a grip.

City brought on big striker Jimmy Deabill to add some height to the attack, but Banbury’s defence held firm.

They introduced Saturday signing Courtenay Herbert up front for his debut as they looked to close out the game, which they did without too much difficulty to make it four clean sheets in a row.

Oxford City: Mooney, Clarke, Martin, Ballard, J Green (Deabill 65), Blossom, Barcelos, Fleet, Lyon (Benjamin 53), Basham (Steele 53), Stanley. Sub not used: Ashton.

Banbury Utd: Kemp, Williams, Polk (Travers 48), Thackeray, Kinch, Hutchcox, Stanbridge, Coleman, W Green (Herbert 88), Woodley, Dowling (Kingston 58), Travers. Sub not used: Robinson.

Attendance: 418.