Brackley followed up the Boxing Day win at Banbury with a convincing home win on a day to remember for Connor Hall who scored a hat-trick on his first appearance.

“I am really pleased with the results and two excellent performances for different reasons,” Gavin Cowan said. “Fortunately we managed to score three goals but had other chances and hit the bar three times in the second half but I am pleased for the lads today to put a result to the performance. We had a lot of forward running today creating chances and we had Connor who managed to get three over the line.”

Banbury had an early chance to go ahead as Danny Lewis, returning to the side after injury, saved one on one with Ken Charles and Craig Hewitt missed the target following up.

On 14 minutes Connor Hall marked his debut with the opening goal, rising to plant his header in the bottom corner from Tommy O’Sullivan’s cross. Danny Newton’s audacious lob from distance almost doubled the lead before Hall headed in his second of the afternoon on 25 minutes after ‘keeper Jack Harding had pushed out Morgan Roberts’ cross. Hall’s flick from a corner was blocked on the line as Saints’ striker came close to a first half hat-trick.

Newton’s fierce effort struck the bar as Brackley began the second half on the front foot but Aidan Elliott-Wheeler’s 52nd minute cross-shot flew beyond Lewis to reduce the deficit and breathe hope into the visitors.

On the hour Hall struck again. Put through on goal Hall was forced wide but found a spectacular finish beyond Harding into the top corner to restore his side’s two goal advantage.

Cosmas Matwasa somehow contrived to find only the cross-bar from close range with an open goal gaping and substitute Jimmy Armson’s header hit the bar before Newton headed wide as Brackley seemed destined to increase their lead still further.

An ugly incident of crowd disorder brought a brief stoppage in play as some spectators in the away section sought to force a way through to confront home supporters. This could have marred what was an excellent game of football, a memorable hat-trick for Connor Hall and an important win for Gavin Cowan’s side.

“Performances have been high but it is a results business and we need to be winning games,” Cowan added. “Connor coming in and getting the hat-trick will get all the headlines but it was an all round strong team performance today.”

Brackley Town: Lewis, Calder, Dean, Gudger, Lyttle, Murombedzi, O’Sullivan, Matwasa, Newton, Hall (Turner 71), Roberts (Armson 78). Subs unused: McHale, Bates, Carline.

Banbury United: Harding, Davies, Waller, Maye, Fleming, Elliott-Wheeler, Charles, Hewitt, Yussuf, Giles, Maja. Subs unused: McCloskey, Whyman.

Referee: Neil Pratt Assistants: Ben Stott and Alexander Pearson

Attendance: 1441