This was a game played in pouring rain throughout but the nippy and wet conditions seemed to suit United as they thoroughly deserved their 5-1 win which hopefully will be the springboard to a move up the table in 2015.

United gave an early sign that they would be a force going forward when in the 8th minute Ben Whitehead picked the ball up in the middle of the Cirencester half and left a defender in his wake before shooting over the bar from 20 yards.

Banbury did not have long to wait though to go ahead as five minutes later Jordan Green received the ball midway inside the Cirencester half and then took the ball forward before releasing Leam Howards who in on goal competently slotted the ball home past goalkeeper Glyn Garner from 12 yards.

On 22 minutes Cirencester went close to equalising when a left hand corner caused problems but Jack Westbrook was on hand to head a goal-bound header over for a corner from just under the bar.

Banbury continued to look very lively going forward and in the 26th minute Carl Tappin put Howards through but this time the United striker shot well over.

In the 36th minute Howards used his pace to get ahead of Ellis Dunton but with just the custodian to beat and inside the penalty area he was brought down from behind by the defender. It was a clear penalty and Dunton duly received his marching orders for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Jacob Walcott converted the spot-kick in style hitting the ball high into the net to the goalkeeper’s left.

In the 43rd minute it was 3-0 when an in-swinging free-kick from the right taken by Whitehead was knocked into the net from six yards by the incoming Howards.

Cirencester, despite the man disadvantage, were improved at the start of the second half and Banbury found themselves under a little pressure. However, United always looked dangerous on the break and on 53 minutes Howards was put through on goal and though his shot was well saved by Garner, Green followed up to put the loose ball into the back of the net.

Three minutes later though Declan Hartigan was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge to even up the numbers.

Cirencester would now have the better of the game but they were unable to find a way through the Banbury defence until the 78th minute when Aiden Bennett scored.

Cirencester pushed forward in search of a second goal but any thoughts of the home side staging a remarkable late comeback disappeared in the 84th minute when Carl Tappin ran through from midfield, getting onto the end of a Walcott through ball and neatly slotting the ball home to make it 5-1.

This was an impressive performance from a United side who comfortably beat a team in fourth place in the table and was a superb response to the disappointing home defeat to Burnham on Tuesday.

Cirencester Town: Glyn Garner, Ian Herring, Ellis Dunton, Mark Pritchett, Matt Liddiard, Jacob Davidge (James Mortimer-Jones 42), Brad Hooper, Aiden Bennett, Nat Jarvis, Josh Parsons, Ed Williams (Kyle Pitts 63). Sub (not used): Ben Wells.

Banbury United: Leigh Bedwell, Luke Cray, Marvin Martin, Jack Westbrook, Carl Tappin, Tom Ryan, Jordan Green (Duran Martin 58) Declan Hartigan, Leam Howards (Darius Brown 74), Jacob Walcott, Ben Whitehead. Subs: Lewis Strafford, Scott Smith.

Attendance: 133