Banbury United 4 Hemel Town 0
Table-topping Hemel Town crashed to their first defeat since the end of October as they were hammered by Banbury United at Spencer Stadium.
The Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division leaders started brightly and created three chances in as many minutes – the best falling to Joe Bruce whose low drive went narrowly past the upright after Victor Osobu had gone close.
However, Banbury survived the early pressure and broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when Tom Lorraine latched on to a through-ball and beat Tudors keeper Mark Osborn with a fierce shot from the edge of the box.
The home side went on to dominate the first half, with Kynan Isaac twice going close and the impressive Albi Skendi having a header ruled out for offside.
The half-time whistle came to Hemel’s rescue as United had to make do with a solitary goal advantage despite their domination.
Hemel stepped a gear after the break and David King fired over from the edge of the box, but United held firm.
And having survived the opening ten minutes of the second half, Skendi doubled United’s lead in the 64th minute when he caught Danny May in possession and raced into the box before slipping the ball under Osborn.
Dean Coleman preserved United’s two-goal cushion with a superb reflex save to keep out Alex Campana’s far post header, before the hosts increased their lead from a 69th minute penalty.
Wayne Blossom was tripped in the box and Adeylinka Talabi smashed home the resulting spot-kick.
And Talabi grabbed his second goal of the game in the 79th minute following another quick counter-attack.
Skendi released Isaac on the right, and he quickly switched play to allow Talabi to race through and coolly lift the ball over Osborn to round off an impressive performance.
Hemel stay top of the league despite the defeat, but Leamington are only three points behind the Tudors with five games in hand.