After their fine opening day victory at Oxford, City started their home campaign hosting a Banbury side that came to Cambridge on the back of a 3-3 draw in their curtain raiser against Strourbridge.

City were boosted by the signing of striker John Frendo who joined the club on non-contract terms hours before kick-off, and took his place on the bench. Scott Neilson had headed north to Bradford for his second week of a trial meaning that Pat Bexfield was handed his first full start in a Lilywhite shirt.

For Banbury, the man to watch was centre forward, David Stone who had signed from Rugby and scored two goals for the Puritans on Saturday.

From the off, City took control of the game and played the opening exchanges at a high tempo with the ball being moved swiftly on an excellent looking Milton Road playing surface. Banbury were living off scraps in the first 10 minutes of the game, and it was somewhat of a surprise when the visitors stunned their hosts by taking the lead. With the City defence looking to keep Stone quiet, it was the lively Declan Benjamin who met Nathan Haisley's cross, turning the ball past Zac Barrett.

But it didn’t take the Lilywhites long to respond, and four minutes later Gary Roberts’ men were level. The ball was laid off to Steve Gentle who found space, and with the Banbury defence failing to close him down, he smashed a low shot into the bottom corner past the stretched arms of Puritans keeper, Joe Murrell.

City looked to press on, and 7 minutes later Dave Theobald – looking to emulate his goal against Oxford on Saturday – flicked a header on at the near post from a cross which was subsequently met by Chaffey, but was expertly tipped round the post by Murrell to deny City the lead.

At the other end, Banbury pressed, and they could have easily gone back in front when Jason Taylor was inches away from meeting a cross from the left hand side.

The visitors were looking dangerous on the break, and City had to keep a watchful eye on Benjamin who was providing City with a few problems. But the next opportunity fell to City. Good work by Bexfield found Adie Cambridge, who spotted Murrell slightly out of position, and tried a speculative shot which the visiting keeper did well to adjust to and in the end save comfortably.

Four minutes before the break City had another opportunity. This time it was good work from Midgley and then Cambridge that lead to chances for Gentle and Theobald, but neither were made to count.

One which was made to count was two minutes before the break, and is already a contender for goal of the season. Matt Haniver collected a cross field pass, and in space and 35 yards out from goal, tried his luck which saw his right footed effort sail past the despairing arms of Murrell to put the Lilywhites in front.

The second half started with City looking to press home their advantage, and 5 minutes in Ash Fuller found Adie Cambridge whose effort went wide of the Banbury upright.

After 55 minutes it was David Stone once again for the visitors who picked up a loose ball who fired an effort wide of Barrett’s post. Moments later, Joe Coleman crossed and Benjamin got his head under the ball only to see his effort collected by Barrett under the cross bar.

As the match drifted into the final quarter, chances were at a premium for both sides. City did win a free kick in a promising position after 70 minutes, and with the chance to test the keeper, Lee Chaffey stepped up to see his effort go high and wide.

With City looking to close the game out, Banbury to their credit continued to press, but tended to be reduced to long range efforts, with the City defence being expertly marshalled well by both Theobald and Chaffey.

Pat Bexfield who had an impressive game for City went close to increasing City’s advantage when he met a corner, which the Banbury defence did well to clear.

With the game entering the final moments, and with the referee playing what seemed to be a mountain of injury time, Banbury could have quite easily gone home with a share of the spoils. The visitors won a free kick and a long ball forward found substitute, Howard Forinton, who from 6 yards out blasted an effort goal bound, and City were thankful to Zac Barrett with a smart stop.

That proved to be the last meaningful action of the match, and City managed to hold on and secure their second victory of the season, and keep a 100% record meaning that for 24 hours at least, the Lilywhites sit proudly at the top of the Zamaretto Premier Division.