A devastating burst of three goals in four minutes just before half-time spurred Uhlsport Hellenic league Premier Division leaders Ardley United to a 3-1 victory away to struggling Witney Town. The deadlock was broken after 37 minutes by an individual goal from leading scorer Ryan Brooks, who struck again a minute later from a Stuart Bridges through ball.
Witney were in chaos and Bridges himself made it 3-0 in the 40th minute.
Half-time saw the introduction of Ardley new signing Jack Welch.
But Witney pulled one back in the 55th minute with a wind-assisted effort to complete the scoring.
Oxford City Nomads kept up the heat on Ardley by recording a 5-0 win home to Holyport.
Conor McDonagh scored a hat-trick and further goals came from Ben Moses and Louis Joyce.
Abingdon Town also scored in bursts as all their goals in their 5-0 win at home to Cheltenham Saracens came in the second half.
Adam Lovegrove started the scoring in the 49th minute and completed it in the 87th, courtesy of Mark Janes’s cross.
Lewis Gabbidon scored on the hour, while the scoring was completed by efforts from Jamie Mundy’s double in the 63rd and 74th minutes.
Champions Wantage Town finished with ten men as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to lively Thame United. Having taken the lead in the 34th minute, when Danny Keen touched the ball over the line after Tom Malton’s free-kick had been spilt by the home keeper, Wantage had to work hard to protect their lead, Thame dominated the second half and equalised in the 86th minute through substitute Adam Rhodes, although Wantage were convinced he was offside.
The visitors’ substitute Tom Rowe was sent off for protesting too vociferously. Shrivenham returned to winning ways defeating Kidlington 2-0, Lewis Page scoring both goals.
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