29 September 2026 · Banbury United (a) · Southern League Premier Central
McKenzie, Hall and Bearne sink Banbury United as Stratford end 66-year wait
Stratford Town claimed a first Southern League Premier Central victory of the season with a 3-2 win at Banbury United's 2 Go Community Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The Bards had gone into the game with three draws and no league wins to their name, and the commentary captured the relief at the final whistle: three of the goals came from what the announcer called "our three newbies" — McKenzie, Hall and Bearne — all of whom had joined the club recently.
The Bards trailed to an early Banbury goal before Zach McKenzie's 19th-minute header levelled it and a 1-1 scoreline held at the break. Kobe Hall edged Stratford in front on the hour and substitute Jack Bearne sealed it with his first goal for the club on 79 minutes, the points secured despite a late Banbury reply. According to the commentary, it was the first time Stratford Town had won at this ground in 66 years.
Key moments
- 1.Jack Bearne (79') — The substitute collected a perfectly weighted through-ball from Zach McKenzie, took it in his stride into the box and drove it first-time past the goalkeeper into the bottom corner on his first goal for Stratford Town, making it 3-1.
- 2.Kobe Hall (61') — Hall found space inside the penalty area and steered the ball through the goalkeeper's legs, putting Stratford ahead for the first time after the teams had been level at the break. Banbury immediately brought on substitutes in response.
- 3.Zach McKenzie (19') — Kobe Hall fed Finley Brennan down the side of the box, who clipped it first-time into the six-yard area, and McKenzie got ahead of his marker to head it past the goalkeeper. His second goal in two games for the club.
- 4.Banbury's opening goal (approx. 14') — A long throw from Jacob Scott was met in the area and worked to Joel Anchor, who finished to give the home side an early lead the Bards were forced to overturn.
- 5.Paul McCone won the toss before kick-off and chose to have the wind at Stratford's backs in the second half — a decisive call by the skipper that shaped the Bards' second-half pressure.
Stratford showed real resilience, coming from behind in the first half and controlling large spells of the second with the wind at their backs. Harry Hawkins was prominent throughout, disrupting Banbury's play in midfield, while Reese Flanagan put in important defensive work late on to see the result out. With a home derby against Leamington next up in ten days, the Bards will travel back to Warwickshire with their first three points of the league campaign secured.
Venue: 2 Go Community Stadium, Banbury · Competition: Southern League Premier Central · Referee: Jamie Stevenson