Former Thame United striker Jon Gardner hit the second-half winner from the penalty spot as Banbury United battled back to retain the cup in an entertaining clash at the Kassam Stadium last night.

In truth, City would have been dead and buried had it not been for their keeper Carl Wilkins, who pulled off a number of great saves.

Early on in the all-Southern League clash, a shock looked on the cards when Gavin Lane, a former Thame teammate of Gardner's, fired the Division 1 South & West side in front on three minutes in a goalmouth scramble after the Premier Division outfit had failed to deal with a Mark Jones corner.

Seconds later, Wilkins made a super save from Darren Pond, before he somehow got a hand to Andy Baird's well-struck drive.

Earlier, City's Liam Malone had a shot blocked, before Jim Griffin hooked the ball over.

Malone and Griffin were booked for late challenges, before Wilkins was quickly out to block former City striker Howard Forinton after Stuart Bridges's through ball set him clear.

Pond then had an effort kicked off the line, with Bridges's effort fizzing wide of an upright.

Just before the break, City were again indebted to Wilkins, who finger-tipped Chris Jackson's bullet-like header over the bar.

Banbury must have been thinking it was going to be one of those nights when Pond's beautifully-struck 30-yard shot rebounded off Wilkins's right-hand post.

After the break, the only change in personnel was the referee, with Alan Longford taking over in the middle after John Busby suffered an ankle injury.

Banbury kept up the pressure and were rewarded with a superb equaliser on 53 minutes. Ollie Stanbridge clipped the ball forward for Gardner, whose first-time cross was headed in by Baird after his initial effort was kept out by Wilkins.

Banbury nearly took the lead seconds later, but Wilkins made a great save from Forinton with his feet.

After Baird headed wide, Banbury went ahead from the penalty spot after City skipper Adam Durrant brought down Gardner.

The pacy winger, who missed a penalty against Team Bath in the league, stepped up to fire past Wilkins for his 22nd goal of the season, in off the left-hand post.

Banbury suffered a blow when their Oxford United goalkeeping legend Alan Judge went off with a calf injury, though his replacement Joe Murrell had little to do.

City player-boss Justin Merritt was introduced to the action and the ex-Thame man saw his header from Lee Rendell's cross dip just over.

Durrant then blazed over, before Omar Takriti's 25-yard effort flew inches wide as City threw everyone forward, but Banbury dealt with the treat as they lifted the cup again.

Banbury Utd: Judge (Murrell 77), Kinch, Sullivan, Jackson, Bridges, Pond, Stanbridge, Redknap, Forinton, Baird, Gardner (Gooderick 85). Subs not used: Foley, McKay, Nicholls.

Oxford City: Wilkins, Durrant, Takriti, Lane, Avery, Jones, Griffin (Merritt 71), Malone, Stewart (Aleyne 68), Chakoadza, Rendell (Harper 85). Subs not used: Craker, Ford Attendance: 418.