Damage in the Box!: BANBURY UNITED (Spencer Stadium)

After three previous attempts to visit the Spencer Stadium were curtailed by the "great" British weather, attempt number four finally proved successful! Even better the sun was shining and it felt more like August than March.

The reason I was so desperate to see a game at the Spencer is that it is one of those grounds that is under threat from developers. The club are now operating on a year-to-year ground lease from the owners, so it could disappear at any moment, so better to be safe than sorry.

Banbury are also having a difficult time on the field too, their manager resigning a couple of weeks ago after a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Chippenham, and they find themselves hovering dangerously above the relegation zone, but with all the teams around them having games in hand.

The game today was a must win, especially against a mid-table Tiverton side with nothing to play for but pride. Unfortunately for The Puritans it turned out to be a comfortable away win for Tivvy.

A Paul Jarvis double gave the visitors a 2-0 interval lead, the first goal a tap in after the initial shot was saved, the second a looping header from a long ball.

Jamie Mudge sealed the victory on 72 minutes with a breakaway run and shot. Banbury had plenty possession, as Tiverton were quite happy to sit back on their lead, but they never really troubled the visiting keeper.

Worryingly for their supporters, Banbury at times looked like a team resigned to their relegation fate and, with Hitchin Town, the team directly below them, winning and all the teams around them with those aforementioned games in hand, that sadly looks like how their season will end.

Pleasant day out at a proper non-league ground...ride that cock horse to Banbury cross and go visit the Spencer Stadium whilst you still can!!