Didcot Town’s resurgence continued on Saturday with a convincing 4-1 victory over fifth-placed Tiverton Town in Division 1 South & West of the Evo-Stik Southern League on Saturday.

It was the Railwaymen’s third home league victory in a row – a feat they had not previously achieved in more than four years.

They are now only five points away from a play-off spot.

Tiverton were the better side throughout the first half and with better finishing could have had the game wrapped up by the interval.

The league’s top scorer, Joe Bushin, was the first to test Marco Belloli-Pereira, but the keeper saved well.

At the other end, Morgan Williams was denied by Tiverton keeper Christopher Wright before Didcot took the lead in the 23rd minute.

A Tiverton free-kick was headed clear by Luke Carnell and then a flowing move 80 yards up the pitch, involving Pablo Haysham and Mark Janes, finished up with Jamie Heapy volleying home at the far post.

The visitors wasted two great chances to hit back. Jules Emati-Emati was clean though only to poke his shot past the far post, while Bushin then headed into the side-netting when he looked certain to add to his 17-goal this season.

Didcot doubled their lead on 51 minutes after Janes was tri-pped in the box and Elli-ott Osborne-Ricketts fired the spot-kick home past Wright.

Tiverton’s response was immediate.

Lewis Tasker hit a post with a low drive, and, from the rebound, Emati-Emati’s cross was deflected into his own net by Carnell.

Williams saw his header saved for Didcot, while Tasker drove inches wide for the Devon side.

Haysham brought a brilliant save at full stretch from Wright, but he was not to be denied after 73 minutes.

Great work from Osborne-Ricketts set up Haysham, whose low drive squeezed under Wright.

But the celebrations were short-lived because Didcot were caught napping at the back two minutes later. A hopeful-looking ball over the top put substitute Adam Faux in the clear. He was brought down by Belloli-Pereira in the penalty area, but Bushin blasted the spot-kick over the bar and halfway to the railway station. The result was settled when Janes fed Haysham who applied the clinical finish to make it 4-1. The League table is so congested that a run of just one defeat in eight games has elevated Didcot to just five places and five points from a play-off place.

Next-up is the trek down to Somerset to play Taunton on Saturday.

Didcot Tn: Belloli-Pereira, Elkins, Stanley, Osborne-Ricketts (Harris 90), Carnell, Allaway, Janes, Heapy, Haysham , Meade (Tappin 85), Williams. Subs not used: Bernasconi, Pereira.

Attendance: 112.

Abingdon United’s game at Bridgwater Townwas postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.