PAUL Bough was in top form, notching a hat-trick as he helped North Oxford Conservative Club to a 6-2 home victory over AFC Vikings in Division 1, writes GEOFF BOWER.
In a programme hard-hit by the wet weather, Vikings were quickly out of the blocks, but were thwarted by a superb display from North's keeper Huw Evans.
His performance allowed North to get back into the game.
And North's dominance paid off with Terry Stockford glancing a header home from Craig Bloomfield's excellent free kick.
And it got worse for the visitors, with Andrew Mazey increasing North's lead, tapping in from six yards following an Andy Paine cross.
Bough then netted the next three goals in clinical fashion and although Vikings replied twice, Andy Wheeler scored North's sixth to seal the victory.
Meanwhile, in Division 2 leaders Northway continue to impress after a comfortable 2-0 victory over visitors and fellow promotion hopefuls Star Wanderers Res.
Although it proved to be a hard-fought game, with three cautions and two dismissals, it was never out of the control of referee Tim Siret who had an excellent game.
Both sides had early chances, but the heavy pitch meant digging in, with few goal opportunities created.
But it wasn't until a few minutes before the break that a brilliant through ball from Northway's Richard Walker found Darren Brown free on the edge of the penalty area, and as the Star keeper advanced off his line, he coolly chipped over him into the net.
The game developed into a battle in the second period, but Northway, who put in their best all-round team performance of the season, always had the upper hand and created more of the openings.
And the persistence of striker Karl Gray paid off when he harried the Star defence, winning the ball and slotting home past the keeper to maintain their lead at the top of the division.
Nelson continue to dominate Division 3 and maintained their 100 per cent record with another comfortable 8-0 win, this time over visitors Riverside.
Captain Liam O'Callaghan grabbed a hat-trick, and player-manager Graham Hambridge again came off the bench to score.
Kevin Powell then grabbed two individual goals and leading goalscorer Carl Bloomfield got in the act.
Man-of-the-match Delroy Thomas broke his scoring duck for the club with a 25-yard half volley to complete the scoring.
ONS forgot last week's disappointing Sam Waters Cup defeat at the hands of Real Armas as recorded a much-needed 4-1 win over Chase Finance Res 4-1.
Chase took the lead through Mark Mews, but ONS soon hit back and a well-taken hat-trick from Gary Rudman and a Darren Barber tap-in secured the points.
Meanwhile, in the Premier Division Blackbird Sunday beat Star Wanderers 4-1, while Oxford Exiles grabbed a rare victory at home to Morris Motors after a battling display saw them to a 3-2 victory.
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