DORCHESTER were thumped 5-1 by Banbury United in their opening Evo-Stik Southern League Premier clash at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium.

The hosts raced into a 3-0 lead after 22 minutes with goals from Tom Winters, Conor McDonagh and George Nash and maintained that advantage to the break.

Dorchester improved in the second half but further goals from Luke Carnell and ex-Weymouth striker Jefferson Louis saw Banbury lead 5-0 after 62 minutes.

David Jerrard pulled a consolation goal back for the Magpies via the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining but the damage had long been done for Craig Laird’s side.

Only eight minutes had elapsed when McDonagh’s low cross into the centre found Winters, who was on hand to finish from six yards.

Just two minutes later it was 2-0. Louis collected a wayward Chris Clarke pass, got the by-line He took the ball down the right of the Dorchester penalty area to the by-line before crossing into the centre where McDonagh, who had continued to run forward, fired the ball high into the top of the net at the far post.

Dorchester responded with a couple of efforts from distance by Neil Martin and Sam Lanahan but neither caused any major concerns to Jack Harding in the Banbury goal.

Though Dorchester had a decent amount of possession in the half to the midway point, they would fall three goals behind in the 22nd minute.

The third goal came when McDonagh collected a throw-in on the edge of the Dorchester penalty area down the left and then passed inside to the forward running George Nash who in plenty of space had the time to pick his spot and stroke the ball low into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards.

Eight minutes into the second half, Banbury made it 4-0 when a corner from the left was met with a superb towering header from Luke Carnell 12 yards out, the ball flying into the top corner of the net.

On 62 minutes it was 5-0 when Winters passed the ball through to Louis on the edge of the Dorchester penalty area who in plenty of space competently slotted the ball past an exposed Weale. But the visitors would not have to wait too long to get the goal they deserved when Matt Peake-Pijnen brought down Egan inside the penalty area along the right goal line with Jerrard converting the spot-kick in some style striking the ball high into the top corner of the net to Harding’s left.

Banbury: Harding, Hawtin, Westbrook, Nash, Johnson, Carnell, Peake-Pijnen, Humphreys (Shamsi 62), Louis (Martin 73), McDonagh (Howards 57), Winters.

Subs not used: Bradbury, Robertson.

Magpies: Weale, Bowles (Laird 68), Clarke (Panesar-Dower 73), Storey, Carmichael, Lowes, Buckler (Griggs 73), Martin, Lanahan, Jerrard, Egan.

Subs not used: Beasley, Brookes.

Attendance: 369