CRITCHLEYS UPPER THAMES VALLEY LEAGUE

CRAIG Hambridge scored twice as Rover Cowley snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory at Oxford Yellows to go top of the Premier Divisison, writes Tim Siret.

Hambridge equalised after Piers McGlynn had put Yellows in front. Tom Hayday’s 35-yard lob put Rover in front, but they were pegged back by a spectacular strike from Craig Hinton, before Hambridge netted a late winner.

Dorchester United chalked up their first win, edging past King Arms Wheatley 2-1 thanks to Colin Royal and Brian Rawlings. Benji Cuff pulled a goal back.

Kidlington Royals went nine points clear in Division 1 with a 6-2 win at defensive-minded Standlake Garage.

Royals’ scores came from Lewis Coyle, John Mills, Liam O’Callaghan, player-manager Liam Walker, Dan Leggett and an own goal.

Gary Mitchell and Mike Duerden netted for the hosts, whose keeper Johnny Mitchell saved a penalty.

Adam Walsh’s late strike earned OUP Wanderers a 2-1 win over Mansfield Road.

Tom Williams was the other Wanderers’ scorer while Max Burton netted for Mansfield.

Sutton Wanderers inflicted a second Division 2 defeat on in-form Cholsey United, Ryan Leahy the hero with a brace in his side’s 3-2 win.

Ben Wright was the other scorer for Wanderers, while Phil Hedges hit a double for Cholsey, who were also dumped out of the Ridgeway Cup by Sutton this season.

King & Queen Wheatley came from behind to win 5-2 at Red Lion Islip.

Sam Gordon put the Oxford outfit ahead, but strikes from Alex Gardner and Mark Harper gave Islip a 2-1 lead.

In the second half, Wheatley scored through Jordan Reid, Shane Walley, Elliot O’Brien and Craig Thomas.

Adam Gilroy scored twice to help Didcot Casuals edge past Research Machines 4-3.

Steve Hedges and Ashley Wilcox also netted, while RM replied through Neil Hillier, Chris Coppock and Lee Wyatt.

Josh Gilsenan hit a brace as Saxton Pirates won 4-2 at Rutherford Lab.

Rob Andrew and Paul Moran were also on target for the Pirates, with Ian Bowler and Gareth Dicks replying.

Division 3A leaders Abingdon Exiles drew 3-3 with Railway Wheatley, despite leading 3-1 at half-time.

Chris Parsons, John Monnery and Rob Lucibello scored for Exiles, while Railway’s goals came from Ryan Witney (2) and Shaun Liptrott.

Northway’s Barry Gray was sent off in the second half of their 2-0 defeat by FC Zubry, both of whose goals came from Rafal Popiolek.

There were three double scorers for AFC Crowmarsh in their 7-0 home defeat of Milton Midgets in Division 3B.

Tim Holtom, Ben Willis and Craig Passey all netted twice, with Joe Sutton grabbing the other.

OTHER SCORERS

Div 3A: Iffley Harriers 5 (J Barrett 3, D Pear, N East), Chatsworth Buccaneers 0; Freeland Yeoman 6 (E Simlett 3, J Perkin, J Wick, Hardy), Forest Hill 3; White Horse Abingdon 2 (P Clark, D Gunston), Abba Ath 0.

Div 3B: Hagbourne Hotspur 3 (R Hathaway, A Lawrence, J Thorne), Berinsfield Rebels 1; The Tree 2 (C Hogan pen, O O’Hanlon), Northway Res 3 (C Dunsmuir, L Colwell, L O’Sullivan); Long Wittenham 1 (D Osbourne), FC Hagbourne 2 (S Carter, J Belcher); Black Swan 2 (A Steele, D Maycock), JET 1 (T Jones).