Chesham Utd 1

Banbury Utd 0

Banbury United’s 11-year stay in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division came to an end on Saturday with defeat at Chesham United.

The Puritans needed to win and hope that Frome Town lost at home to St Neots Town to complete what would have been a great escape.

But after being reduced to ten men with the dismissal of Joel Meade, Banbury’s survival bid was extinguished when Dave Pearce struck home a late winner, while Frome drew 1-1.

Banbury’s nerves were apparent from the start and they struggled to create any serious chances during a scrappy opening spell.

Pearce sliced an early shot wide for the home side, but that was as close as they came before half-time.

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In their urgency to make an early breakthrough, Banbury resorted to pumping long balls forward towards diminutive strike duo Kynan Isaac and Leam Howards.

But these were easily dealt with by a Chesham backline, which included on-loan Oxford United youngster Robbie Cundy.

Isaac came closest to opening the scoring with a fierce left-footed shot, which flew narrowly wide.

Pearce was again Chesham’s greatest threat after the break, striking the bar with an ambitious effort from outside the area.

Substitute Jacob Walcott looked destined to open the scoring just moments after his introduction.

But with the goal at his mercy he inexplicably attempted to square it to Isaac, who was unable to reach his wayward pass.

Only the fingertips of goalkeeper Shane Gore then denied Howards an opening goal, brushing the striker’s attempted lob into the path of Jordan Green, whose header skimmed the bar on its way over.

Tensions boiled over in the later stages as Banbury grew increasingly desperate, with a Chesham corner resulting in a clash between Meade and Nick Beasant in the area.

Meade’s shirt was torn from his shoulders in the incident, but it was the centre back who was given his marching orders for an apparent stamp on Beasant, much to the indignation of his teammates.

A man down, Banbury looked vulnerable and the extra space at the back was almost exploited by Toby Little, who looped an effort over.

But the final nail in the coffin came three minutes into stoppage time when Pearce curled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Banbury Utd: Bedwell, Daffern (Fishwick 87), Martin, Meade, Westbrook, Ryan, Green, Murombedzi (Walcott 65), Howards, Isaac, Abdellah. Subs not used: Cray, Browne, Tappin.

Referee: A Parker.

Attendance: 375.