North Berks League

Leaders Crowmarsh Gifford took a big stride towards the Division 2 title with a hard-fought 3-2 win at neighbours Benson AFC, writes ANDY WELLS.

Crowmarsh took a 2-0 lead through James Ham and Tommy O'Driscoll.

Benson replied early in the second half with a penalty from Damian Rigozzi.

However, Crowmarsh made it 3-1 through Scott Gesner.

Benson pulled another goal back late on when Andy Wright set up Rob Lyon to smash into the top of the net.

Grove Rangers were no match for Lambourn Sports Res whose 4-1 win saw them climb to within a point of second-placed Benson.

Chris Prior, Dave Hogben, Andy Bulloch and Steve Crame scored for Lambourn, who cannot be promoted, with Ian Gordan replying.

Long Wittenham Athletic further dented Kingsclere's promotion hopes with a 1-1 home draw.

Martin Townsend scored for Kingsclere, but the home side netted through Andy Marriott to keep alive their hopes of avoiding relegation.

Sutton Courtenay lost 5-3 at home to basement boys Shrivenham A, while East Hendred drew 1-1 with Coleshill United Res.

Division 1 champions-elect Lambourn Sports saw their game at Coleshill United postponed due to flooding, but benefitted from Ardington & Lockinge drawing 1-1 with Harwell International.

Ardington's Graham Fenton bagged his 26th of the season, but Chris Whitworth scored an own goal.

OTHER SCORERS

Div 1: Wootton & Dry Sandford 1 (A Brooks), Blewbury 2 (T Ingram 2); Steventon 3 (B Parry 2, D Parry), Faringdon 1; Saxton Rovers 3 (D Carter, J Hawthorne, J Gaff), Marcham 1.

Div 3: Didcot Casuals 4 (W Jacks, J Newport, T Fisher, M Evans), Grove Rangers Res 0; Blewbury Res 2 (D Healey 2), Faringdon Tn Res 3 (J Lovegrove, T Redman, R Edwards); Marcham Res 1 (T Stamp), Childrey Utd 2 (J Kendall, A Donnelly); Drayton Res 4 (L Venn 3, I Oram), Stanford-in-the-Vale 0.

Div 4: Harwell International Res 2 (A Blaszko 2), Hagbourne United 0; Harwell Village Res 4 (A Junkison, A Rouse, L Fuller, G Bertrum), Wootton Res 0; Uffington Utd 2 (G Haines, B Reay), Didcot Casuals Res 4 (C Dean, S Beard, G Cole, P Nelson og); Hanney United 3 (M Davidson 2, W MacDonald), Challow United 2 (M Turnbull and E McGowan).

Div 5: Stanford-in-the-Vale Res 0, Benson Res 4 (W Clements 2, A Rodriguez, A Summers); Hanney United Res 1 (J Stroud), Harwell International A 6 (J Clark 3, D Humphries, C Key, P Gholami); Hagbourne United Res 0, Coleshill United A 5 (C Bill 2, J Calow, S Clark, R Philips); Faringdon Town A 2 (M Kelly, N Wojcik), Grove Rangers A 0.