BANBURY United brushed off pre-match disruption to claim an important 3-2 win over title rivals Peterborough Sports.

Kick-off was pushed back 15 minutes after the Puritans’ coach was stuck in traffic, but it had little impact.

Andy Whing’s side came flying out of the blocks and first-half goals from Morgan Roberts, Chris Wreh and Jay Williams were enough to send them five points clear at the top of Pitching In Southern League Premier Central.

Roberts missed a penalty and Peterborough's Lewis Hilliard was sent off late on in an entertaining contest as Banbury recorded a fourth straight win.

The visitors were 2-0 up inside a quarter of an hour as they set the tone for a dominant first half.

Roberts opened the scoring after ten minutes, his third goal in three games, before Wreh rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.

Dion Sembie-Ferris converted Josh Moreman’s cross at the far post to quickly reduce the deficit, only for Jack Stevens to win Banbury a penalty moments later.

Roberts missed from the spot, but Williams made no mistake just after the half-hour mark to head home from a corner and reward his side’s excellent start.

There were fewer chances after the break, with Peterborough’s Dan Jarvis heading just wide and Wreh seeing a shot pushed away by Paul White.

The game exploded into life in the closing stages, with Hilliard sent off for a high challenge in the 88th minute and Jarvis scoring from a free-kick in stoppage-time.

Ben Taylor tipped Mark Jones’s header around the post as Banbury held on for a deserved win, which leaves them nine points ahead of third-placed Peterborough.

In Division 1 Central, Kidlington battled to a 1-1 draw at Welwyn Garden City.

The visitors were already depleted when Dan Stokoe went off injured midway through the first half and went behind to George Ironton’s strike moments later.

Welwyn could not increase their lead after the break and Ryan Knight, who came on to replace Stokoe, made them pay with 19 minutes left.

The substitute converted after a free-kick was knocked down, ensuring Kidlington did not return to Oxfordshire empty-handed.

They will be 17th in the table on Christmas Day.