Nelson A closed to within a point of Group B leaders Marlborough Club with a brilliant 5-1 away at Headington Con Club in the Buildbase Oxford & District League.

Ian Gordon (2,550), Craig Mace (3,780) and a good game by Lewis Stratford (7,180) won the opening three games.

More wins from Gordon (2,660) and Mace (2,980) increased the lead to 5-0, before Dave Gordon prevented the whitewash when he got the better of Stratford.

Marlborough Club could manage only a 3-3 home draw against Gladiators Club.

Gladiators’ Bob Pincombe put the away side in front, but Chris Iagoe (2,940) and Chris Plant (4,860) saw Marlborough hit back for a 2-1 lead.

Pincombe again (4,620) squared the match, only for Phil Clark to make it 3-2 to Gladiators.

Chris Plant (3,350) then secured the draw.

Group A leaders Didcot Con Club went down to a 4-2 defeat at Democrats Club.

Billy Hill (6,830 & 3,600), John Patey (7,040 & 7,980) won well for Democrats, while Stuart Florey (3, 840 & 9,820) was victorious for Didcot.

Bletchingdon Club won 5-1 at home to Dolphin.

Andy Skinner (1,590 and 3,690) Pete Soanes (3,220 & 7,210) and Colin Winstone (5,540) took the first five games.

Simon Ellam won Dolphin’s only point in the last game.

Meanwhile, in the C side competition, Oxford D lost 6-4 on aggregate to Reading D.

Oxford’s Joe Storch (4,500) and Chris Storch (3,430) took the away points, while in the return leg Storch (5,270) and Craig Mace (6,200) were the winners.