Beaconsfield SYCOB, who play at the same level as Banbury, albeit in a different division, started the better of the two sides. Despite this though it was United who went close to taking the lead, against the run of play, in the sixth minute when a cross from the right by Ricky Johnson was met inside the six yard box by Louis Joyce but the visiting goalkeeper made an excellent point-blank save with Mark Bell then firing the rebound well over from eight yards.

Despite this near miss for Banbury it was Beaconsfield who continued to have the better of the game and it wasn’t until midway through the half that United began to match their visitors and it started to become a more even game.

And it would be Banbury who would make the all-important breakthrough in the 30th minute when good play down the left hand side involving Duran Martin, Jon Steedman, Joyce and Johnson ended with Joyce stroking the ball from the edge of the penalty area into the far bottom corner of the net.

Two minutes later Beaconsfield were very unfortunate not to equalise when a superb 25 yard effort from Lee Togwell hit the base of the post with Jack Stevens in the Banbury goal then pulling off a super save from the rebound which James Harding latched onto at the six yard mark.

On the basis of the first half, Beaconsfield could consider themselves unfortunate to be behind but Banbury were much improved in the second half and had much the better of this period.

Just before the hour Ricky Johnson got around the back of the defence down the right before laying the ball back from the bye-line into the path of Mark Bell but the former Chesham man shot just wide from a few yards inside the penalty area.

With a quarter of an hour to go good play down the right between Zac McEachran and Callum White ended with the latter shooting just wide.

However, United always looked like getting a second goal and it came with ten minutes to go when a free-kick from wide on the left taken by Reece Bayliss was headed home from 10 yards out by Andy Gunn.

There has been a lot of promise shown by United in pre-season and this win over a side that play at the same level will be a confidence booster before the new season proper begins next Saturday with a home game against Swindon Supermarine.

Banbury United: Jack Stevens, Zak Eadle, Jon Steedman, Duran Martin, Andy Gunn, Bradley Cox, Reece Bayliss, Carl Tappin, Ricky Johnson, Louis Joyce, Mark Bell. Used Subs: Brian Bowles, Jack McLaughlin, Callum White, Zac McEachran, Leam Howards, Bradley Partner.