WALLINGFORD Town closed the gap on North Berks League Division 1 leaders Berinsfield with a 3-1 victory at home to Stanford in the Vale, writes RICHARD UNDERWOOD.

Town moved to within six points of top spot courtesy of goals from Ashley Searle, Steve Gair and Oliver Taylor. The visitors’ consolation came via an own goal.

East Hendred shared the points after a thrilling 5-5 draw at Burghclere.

Liam Eltham and Tom Geach bagged a brace each for Hendred, alongside a Ben Altham effort, but a George Holland hat-trick and Alexander Smith’s double secured a draw.

Long Wittenham Athletic returned to form in style with a 4-1 win at home to Lambourn Sports.

James Webb scored for the visitors, but they were no match for Athletic, who won comfortably thanks to goals from Michael Farrelly, Will Houseman, Joe Cheong and Steven Molloy.

Steventon went level at the top of Division 2 as they extended their winning run to ten matches with a 2-1 home success over Sutton Courtenay.

David Johns and Jamie Speer netted the winning goals, with Mason Churton on target for Sutton.

Jonathan Phair netted twice in Hanney United’s 5-0 thumping of visitors Faringdon Town Res.

Sam Bishop, Shaun Harris and Chris Hunt were also on the mark as Hanney move up to fourth in the table.

Josh Axtell’s brace for Dorchester ultimately proved in vain as they were beaten 5-2 at home to Westminster, thanks to goals from Aiden Di-Toro, Tom Srawley, Michael Hooton, Kieran Hughes and Simon Joyce.

Jamie Gregory hit an astonishing five goals as Division 3 leaders Ardington & Lockinge charged on at the top with a 7-0 thrashing of hosts Highworth Town Development.

Joel Vaughan and Lee Kent also scored to maintain Ardington’s place at the summit.

Watlington Town remain level on points at the top following their 5-1 victory at home to Compton.

Edgar Garces and Adam Holloway scored twice each and Conor B’Layachi was also on target for Town, with Michael Butler netting the away side’s consolation.

Jordan Jones and Matt Turl each netted a hat-trick as Benson Lions thrashed Uffington United 7-0.

Matthew Waters also scored as Lions move up to fourth.

North Oxford Res returned to the top of Division 5 with a 3-0 win at Stanford in the Vale Res, thanks to a Sadiq Hamis brace and a Seb Berridi effort.

Third-placed Long Wittenham Athletic kept pace with the leaders as they won 4-3 at Drayton.

Carl Bolton scored twice and Kieron Hughes was also on target for the hosts, but they were beaten by a Nick Townsend double and goals from Michael Learoyd and Callum Heapy.

Stand-in goalkeeper Matthew Doig was the star as Grove Rangers Res upset Burghclere Res 3-2 in the AG Kingham Cup second round.

Dean Stockwell and Cian Weedon netted for the visitors, but goals from Jamie Dutton, Matt Hammond and Steve Pyne won it for Grove.

OTHER SCORERS

Div 1: Kintbury Rgrs 3 (S Thorp, C Allsop, S Mulvey), Saxton Rov 1 (T Stanley).

Div 5: Coleshill Utd Res 5 (H Ayres, M Bugden, K Marsh, J Pedder, T Steele), Marcham Res 3 (L Jackson 2, C Dredge); Uffington Utd Res 2 (D Reed, D Terrett), Hanney 66 3 (B Stone, P Robinson, S McKay); Wallingford Tn A 1 (A Ferrer-Bonsoms), Steventon Res 0.