Veteran striker Steve Jenkins was a hat-trick hero as Banbury picked up three vital points with a 3-0 victory over Wisbech at The Stadium on Saturday.

It means Kevin Brock's side are almost certain to avoid relegation from the Dr Martens Eastern Division.

Banbury showed they meant business in only the second minute, when Wisbech keeper Ian Pledger was forced to save from Ben Milner.

Pledger was left with an injured hand, and he took no further part in the game after the interval.

Matty Gooderick missed a golden chance early on, but as the half wore on, Wisbech came into the game, and Simon Tricker was called upon to make three good saves in as many minutes.

Wisbech's manager Ian Benjamin took the keeper's gloves after the break and this triggered United into pushing forward.

In the 54th minute, a mix-up in the Wisbech area resulted in Gooderick seeing his deflected shot hit a post and bounce back into Benjamin's arms. Then, just two minutes later, Jody McKay's sweet left-foot shot beat Benjamin, but also hit the woodwork.

However, the game turned when substitute Jenkins joined the fray.

United finally took the lead in the 69th minute. Jenkins seized on a loose ball just outside the penalty area and his shot took a slight deflection as it found the top corner of the net. The prostrate Jenkins was immediately engulfed by eight Banbury players!

The best goal of the game came in the 72nd minute when Gooderick slid a diagonal pass through to Jenkins, who calmly slotted the ball into the empty net.

The hat-trick arrived in the first minute of injury time when Wisbech failed to clear a Liam O'Neill corner, and Jenkins needed no second chance when he gleefully hammered the ball over the line.

While Jenkins will steal the headlines, this was no one-man show. Banbury worked their socks off, with their back three of Jason Allen, Kieran Sullivan and Andy Wallbridge never in any danger.

Banbury: Tricker, Wallbridge, Allen, Sullivan, Simpson (O'Neill 85), Essex (Fuller 68), M Travers, Redknap, Milner (Jenkins 65), Gooderick, McKay.

Attendance: 293.