Leaders Farnborough proved too strong for Banbury United as they condemned the Puritans to their third straight Zamaretto League defeat on Tuesday.
Farnborough raced into a two-goal advantage in the first half at Spencer Stadium thanks to Daryl McMahon and Kezie Ibe. United had chances to reduce the arrears in the second half before Farnborough added a third late on through substitute Bobby Hopk
inson.
Jason Taylor made his long awaited return for United, with wing backs Joe Coleman and Jack Ashton also returning, while James Baldwin came into the centre of defence on-loan from Gloucester City.
United coped well early on but the game swung Farnborough's way in the 23rd minute when referee Stephen Phipps gave the visitors a free-kick from an innocuous looking challenge on the edge of the box. With the defensive wall less than ideal, McMahon picked his spot with deadly accuracy.
Ibe went close two minutes later when United failed to deal with another McMahon free-kick and Murrell had to come to his side's rescue.
But Farnborough doubled their advantage four minutes later with United again cursing their luck after Jack Ashton was harshly penalised on the touchline. United failed to recover and when Murrell parried Owen Price's 25-yarder, Ibe reacted quickly to knock home the rebound.
With McMahon and Gary Holloway pulling the strings in midfield, Ibe twice went close to a second before the break, firing over from 30 yards and then turning his shot past the near post from McMahon's low cross.
But United stepped up a gear after the break and created several good openings. David Stone had a cloe range shot blocked by Adam Doyle and Declan Benjamin saw his 20-yard free-kick saved by Stuart Robinson. In between, Murrell did well to foil Ibe after be broke into the box.
Stone missed United's best chance on the hour when he shot wide from six yards after Ashton's free-kick caused problems in the box and substitute Nabil Shariff was denied by a point blank save from Robinson. But Hopkinson added a third in the 88th minute with a powerful drive from the edge of the box.
UTD: Murrell, Baldwin, Milner, Martin, Coleman, Haisley, Redknap (Shariff 62), Benjamin, Ashton, Taylor, Stone. Not used: Stanbridge, Learoyd, McDonald, Gardner
Att: 252
