Banbury United 1 Winchester City 0

Winchester City lost their Southern League One (S & W) play-off semi-final at Banbury United to a late, late goal.

City barely tested Banbury goalkeeper Jack Harding before Brazilian striker Felipe Barcelos struck the 86th-minute winner.

With the tie having to be decided on the night, it looked like extra-time would be needed when a mix-up between City goalkeeper Brendan Norris and centre-half Leigh Mills gifted Barcelos with an open goal.

It was the least Banbury deserved but it was cruel on Norris, who had been outstanding.

Winchester, who finished 11 points below their second-placed hosts, were relieved to be level at the break.

Banbury were utterly dominant, with wingers Mark Bell and Zac McEachran, younger brother of Chelsea’s Josh, particularly effective.

But City defended well, with Norris having little to do until the second half after punching clear an early Bell cross.

Another brilliant Bell run saw the number 11 go past left-back Adam Tomasso and Craig Feeney.

His shot deflected off Jake Newton for a corner and, after more Bell trickery, a McEachran shot ricocheted off a few Winchester legs into the arms of Norris.

Barcelos had the best chance of the night in the first minute of the second half, created by a cross from the left by the excellent Bell.

Then Banbury’s 26-goal top scorer Ricky Johnson had a header well saved but Barcelos somehow failed to convert the rebound, instead putting it tamely back into the hands of Norris, who tipped behind Bell’s cross-shot for a corner.

Barcelos also saw his header comfortably saved by a diving Norris before Banbury defender Jack Westbrook’s header from Bell’s free-kick came back off the far post on the hour.

Johnson fired over the bar after Norris had clawed away Bell’s cross, having spilled it in a packed penalty area.

Winchester finally created their first opening midway through the second half, Feeney heading wide Adam Roberts’ cross from the right.

Bentley did not get his first sight of goal until the 74th minute, only for Banbury captain Andy Gunn to deflect his shot behind with a perfectly-timed challenge on the edge of the six-yard box.

The corner found its way to Jake Newton, whose effort from the edge of the box was cleared off the line.

Norris was forced into another excellent save from Antigua international Duran Martin and at the near post from Bell before, with extra-time beckoning, Barcelos capitalised on a rare error at the back.

Banbury United: Harding, White, Hopkins, Stanbridge (Martin 60), Westbrook, Gunn, McEachran (Browne 71),Nash, Johnson, Barcelos, Bell.

Winchester City: Norris, J Newton, Tomasso, Barron, Mills, Thoroughgood, Roberts (H Newton 80), Hubbard,Forbes, Bentley, Feeney.

Referee: Edward Smart (Rowley Regis).

Attendance: 596