Didcot Town’s unbeaten run in all competitions stretched to ten games with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over local rivals Wantage Town on Saturday, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

The away side kept Didcot at bay for almost an hour of the Division 1 South & West clash, but were finally breached when Josh Dutton-Black poked home.

The hosts had grown increasingly frustrated following a scrappy and nervous opening in which neither side were able to fashion a chance.

Wantage did an excellent job of restricting their in-form opponents and could even have snatched the lead on one of their rare forays forward.

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Mark Janes almost put them in front when he broke down the left-hand side, but his shot was palmed away by James Foster in the Didcot goal.

On the few occasions Didcot were able to open up the Wantage defence, they looked characteristically dangerous.

Pablo Haysham found space on the right wing before pulling the ball back for Matt Woodley to shoot over.

But it was Dutton-Black who came closest to breaking the deadlock before the break with a fierce volley from the edge of the area which was tipped away at full-stretch by goalkeeper Gareth Tucker.

The Railwaymen ramped up the pressure after the break and were rewarded for their patience just before the hour mark.

Dutton-Black got his toe to a shot from a narrow angle by John Mills who did well to keep the ball in at the bye-line.

The hosts continued to pile forward in search of a second, but their efforts were thwarted by a determined Wantage back line.

Mills could have made it safe nine minutes from time when he was played in by substitute Ryan Brooks, but his shot was cleared off the line.

Meanwhile, the visitors lacked the firepower to effectively threaten for an equaliser, resulting in an uneventful conclusion to the match.

Didcot Tn: Foster, Elkins, Organ, Ballard, Carnell, Learoyd, Dutton-Black, Clark (Self 82), Mills, Haysham (Brooks 72), Woodley (Williams 88). Subs not used: Longford, Heapy.

Wantage Tn: Tucker, Glover, Hulbert-Thomas, Cattell, Warne, Jones, Janes, Doyle, A Lovegrove, Johns (Reid 22), Thorne (Barder 75). Subs not used: I Lovegrove, Parish, Pay.

Referee: J Farries.

Attendance: 140.

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