6th October away result 1-2 half time 0-1
Scorer for CM Jack Hitchen (2)
The game began in warm autumn sunshine.
It was an even start with neither side able to put together any decent passes although Banbury played more confidently in the early stages without creating any clear cut chances. Cumnor struggled to get going and looked a disjointed side. The deadlock was eventually broken by Cumnor after 30 minutes when Jack Hitchen scored with a well taken strike giving their keeper no chance.
This meant the half finished 1-0. Pete's half time talk lambasted the players for their poor effort and warned them if they didn't improve in the second half Banbury would win it.
The second half was dominated by a single incident. After 55 minutes Kane had the ball and when being pressed by a Banbury player he dropped it and picked it up again. The is not allowed and according to the laws of the game it should have resulted in an indirect free kick to Banbury. However to Cumnor's horror the ref awarded a penalty. Kane and other Cumnor players tried to point out his error but he would have none of it, pointing out he had been a ref for 15 years and knew the rules better than the players. This led to a booking for Kane and Connor Penfold. The penalty was taken and Kane made a superb save.
Ten minutes later Banbury equalised when Kane took a long free kick from the edge of the pitch, it fell to a Banbury player who immediately passed it forward to their striker who slotted home.
The penalty incident still clouded the game and the ref booked Ben Upjohn and a Banbury player for dissent.
The game eventually settled down and Cumnor pressed for the winner. They were rewarded after 75 minutes when Jack Hitchen scored his second with a well-taken shot from the right just squeezing in past the left hand post.
Banbury strived for an equaliser but thanks some great saves by Kane and resolute defending Cumnor ran out the winners.
It was a scruffy game with Banbury playing much better football than their league position suggests. Cumnor should regard themselves lucky to have got the three points. Man of the match goes to Westy who again worked tirelessly down the right side of the pitch, rarely putting a foot wrong.
