Dunstable Town 1 Banbury United 0

Banbury United are down to 3rd in the table after their first defeat of the season against Dunstable Town.

In the 10th minute Andy Gunn headed a free-kick from Duran Martin wide but as the half developed Dunstable began to have the better of the game.

In the 17th minute Jack Hutchinson set up Danny Talbot on the edge of the Banbury penalty area but his shot was well saved by Jack Harding. The Banbury custodian came to his side’s rescue again five minutes later making a point blank save from Alex Cathline.

In the 25th minute Dunstable took the lead when a cross in from the right was fired home by Cathline from 12 yards into the top corner of the net giving Harding no chance.

Though second best in the half, Banbury could have equalised in the 33rd minute when Jack Self put Barcelos through in on goal but ahead of the defender his lob over Jack Smith in the Dunstable goal went wide.

Six minutes into the second half a cross from Mark Bell from the right saw Jack Westbrook’s glancing header go wide. But though Banbury “huffed and puffed” and played with more urgency and had periods when the put Dunstable under some pressure, they were unable to create any clear chances as the half developed further.

Harding was again called into action in the 69th minute making a good save from Cathline to keep the deficit to a single goal.

In the 77th minute, United had a rare shot on target when Bell brought the ball in from the right and shot from the edge of the penalty area though Smith in the Dunstable goal saved comfortably.

In the 86th minute a ball in from Bell from the right caused an almighty scramble in the six yard box but no Banbury player could poke the ball home.

It was a hectic last few minutes for the home side as Banbury pushed forward for an equaliser and in the fourth minute of stoppage time from a corner from the left the ball fell to George Nash on the edge of the penalty area but his shot was deflected wide.

Over the 90 minutes one couldn’t argue that Dunstable deserved the victory.

Local rivals Leamington are now the only team in the division to have won all their games and are now top of the league.

Dunstable Town: Jack Smith, Zack Reynolds, Jai Dhillon, Danny Talbot (Ashton Grant 90), John Somuga, Adam Pepera, Wilson Ferreira, Danny Green, Alex Cathline, Adam Moussi, Jack Hutchinson. Subs (not used): Joseph Debayo, Taisaan Griffith, Shane Bush.

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Callum White, David Lynn, George Nash, Jack Westbrook, Andy Gunn, Jack Self, Duran Martin (Darius Browne 46), Mark Janes (Leam Howards 73), Felipe Barcelos (Ricky Johnson 46), Mark Bell. Subs (not used): Jacob Blackstock, Michael Hopkins.

Attendance: 203