NORTH Leigh boss Mark Gee was left to curse his side’s luck after they fell to a fifth defeat from seven Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West games, going down 3-1 at Banbury United, writes Matthew Bruce.

After falling behind to first-half strikes from Mark Bell and Zac McEachran, the Millers pulled one back after the break through Sam Elkins.

But they eventually succumbed after Ricky Johnson headed a third for the hosts.

Both sides finished the game with ten men, with the Millers being handed a golden chance when Bell was dismissed in the 70th minute.

But they were unable to capitalise as Zak Westlake was also given his marching orders shortly after.

Gee said: “I really thought we’d get something out of the game immediately before and after their sending-off, but the red card killed our momentum really.

“It was a challenge Zak didn’t have to make, but I think it looked worse than it was.

“Had Bell not been sent off earlier on it would probably have been a yellow card.

“But of course the crowd were just baying for a sending-off.

“I think if the ref had taken 20 seconds to just think about it, he wouldn’t have made the same decision.

“We’re very good from 18-yard box to 18-yard box, but we’ve not done enough in front of goal.”

The hosts opened the scoring on 32 minutes when Bell’s shot found the top corner.

Seven minutes later it was 2-0 after McEachran slotted home.

The visitors equalised on 51 minutes through Elkins’s header.

Bell was then shown a straight red card for a poor challenge on Stuart Hole, and shortly after Westlake was dismissed for the Millers after a foul on Callum White.

Johnson’s goal then made the game safe for Banbury.

The result means North Leigh are now six points adrift of the play-off places and Gee is eager to arrest their slump as they host Bishops Cleeve tonight.

“We’ve had a bad run and we’ve got to find a result,” added Gee.

Banbury Utd: Harding, White, Welch-Hayes (Steedman 83), Nash, Westbrook, Gunn, McEachran (Browne 65), Stanbridge, Johnson, Howards (Barcelos 59), Bell. Subs not used: Wise, Martin.

North Leigh: Foster, Elkins, Hopkins, Turk ( Else 83), Westlake, White, Davies (Williams 80), Hole, Cook (Seacole 80), McNish, Osborne-Ricketts. Sub not used: Taylor.

Attendance: 272.