MIKE Ford felt there was plenty of room for improvement despite seeing his Banbury United dish out an 8-1 thumping at home to Wantage Town.

Mark Bell led the way with a hat-trick, substitute Leam Howards bagged a quickfire double and there were also goals for Zac McEachran, George Nash and Ricky Johnson.

Aaron Ferris netted the away side’s consolation in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West clash.

Banbury moved to within one point of play-off places with victory in front of a healthy crowd at the Spencer Stadium.

But despite the result, manager Mike Ford was unhappy with aspects of his side’s display.

He said: “The supporters aren’t stupid and they can see that some of my players were not up to it in the first half.

“It was disappointing, but whenever I’ve asked a question of them they’ve always come up with an answer and the second half, apart from their goal, was just men against boys really.”

Banbury Utd: Harding, White, Welch-Hayes, Nash, Wise (Westbrook 65), Gunn, Bell, Stanbridge, Johnson, McEachran (Howards 64), Browne (Kalakoutis 79). Subs not used:Blackstock, Martin.

Attendance: 316.