Old school is still a good way to find an opening

Banbury United boss Mike Ford encourages his players to get the ball down and play.
Banbury United winger Tom Winters gets in another cross against St Ives TownBanbury United winger Tom Winters gets in another cross against St Ives Town
Banbury United winger Tom Winters gets in another cross against St Ives Town

But, every now and then, all teams need to go back to basics in order to get the victory, especially when the opposition seemed to have got to grips with the threat from neat inter-passing football.

And so it was on Saturday when the Puritans sealed all three Evo-Stik Southern League minutes with a last-gasp header from captain Ricky Johnson. It was provided from the trusty left foot of Tom Winters, one of many from the on-loan Oxford City winger.

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Four seasons running, Winters bagged 25 goal for Brackley Town and probably set up as many again. So Ford will want his strikers to make the most of his supply.

Several crosses from Winters had not been put to good use by the United attack but in the 90th minute Johnson made sure the final delivery was and he bagged all three premier division points.

Having been given the armband following Andy Gunn’s departure, the new captain led his side to victory despite missing some earlier chances.

Ford said: “We felt it was right for Ricky to have the captain’s armband and he’s come up with a captain’s performance.

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“And was it any coincidence that Tom Winters has crossed the ball for the winner and our number nine headed it in at the back post? That was old school football but that still wins you games.

“Ricky will have been disappointed not to have scored earlier but top strikers don’t worry when they’ve missed a few chances. He kept getting in there and it was a proper centre forward’s goal.

“What we’ve got to learn as that when the ball goes out wide to Tom he is as keen as mustard to get the ball into the box as soon as possible, so we’ve got to get players in there quicker.”