TOWN GIFTWRAP BILLY'S HOMECOMING PRESENT

Banbury boss Billy Jeffrey made a victorious first return to his old club, extending Town's win-less start to the league campaign in the process.

By Jon Venner.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Midfielder Matt Gearing escapes his markers during the second half as Valley pressed during the second half without success

Delroy Gordon had two early opportunities with headers from corners, before another ex-Valley man David Stone gave United the lead after just nine minutes, when he capitalised on a poor error by Craig Herbert before firing the ball low into the corner.

Jack Ashton's flying header almost extended the Puritans' lead shortly after, before David Kolodynski had Rugby's best chance of the first half when he saw his effort smothered by sharp-thinking keeper Joe Murrell.

Ashton's fine through ball then picked out the unmarked Declan Benjamin, and the midfielder's run ended with a glorious twenty yard strike into the roof of the net for Banbury's second.

Aside from Jason Taylor's header over the bar for the visitors, Town had the better of the play and created all the chances in the second period but lacked a killer touch in front of goal.

Kolodynski spurned a further three golden opportunities - the most glaring coming early in the half when he somehow helped the ball wide of an empty net from the edge of the area.

Matt Gearing sent a long ranger just over the bar, and Jason Ramsay put one effort into the side netting and then put an ambitious overhead kick wide of the target.

On 83 minutes another Kolodynski shot was cleared from the line and just a minute later he then blazed over from a great position in the box.

Murrell was again quickly off his line to deny Ramsay in the closing minutes, after the striker had cut into the box from the left hand side.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Herbert, Gordon, Simpson; Richards (Davis), Purton (Castleton), Gearing, Staff, Melvin; Kolodynski, Ramsay. Subs not used: Bell, Donaghey. Booked: None. Sent off: None.