SAINTS LAY DOWN LAW COURTESY OF SHARIFF

BANBURY’S bid to maintain their unbeatstart to the season faltered with defeat to St Neots thanks to two Nabil Shariff goals.

Banbury were straight onto the attack and, from Ravi Shamsi’s corner, Charlie Wise headed straight into the arms of Finlay Iron.

After four minutes Banbury broke out with Georgio Rasulo to put Shamsi in on goal, but he blasted over the bar.

Banbury then took a deserved lead after 17 minutes when a long ball down field found Ricky Johnson, whose header put Shamsi in to lob over Iron.

Banbury were now well on top and Rasulo’s went just wide but they had to keep wits about them, James Goff in the Banburg goal having to save from Claudio Ofosu.

And the hosts were caught napping on 31 minutes, Dion SembieFerris playing on Ofosu and then Shariff to slot in at the far post.

Six minutes later and St Neots took the lead with Shariff firing home yet again.

St Neots kept pushing in the second half and the game was wrapped up 15 minutes after the break, Dylan Williams rifling home.

Banbury started to fight their way back into the game when Rasulo’s shot was pushed around the post by Iron, but the comeback was not forthcoming.