Cherry Red Records Hellenic League

Shortwood Utd 4, Didcot Tn 5

Didcot Town's Premier Division revival continued on Saturday as they recorded their sixth straight win in a nine-goal thriller at Shortwood.

The visitors were the better side in the first half, taking the lead on ten minutes when Andy Marriott converted Dave Beaven's free-kick.

The advantage was doubled ten minutes later as Fletcher Hoey's 30-yard drive was parried by keeper Pearce. Ian Concannon's follow-up hit a post, but Dwaine Strong made no mistake.

Shortwood hit back in the 35th minute via Matt Green, only for Didcot to go 3-1 up through Concannon.

Didcot seemed to have the game wrapped up a minute into the second half as they went 4-1 up through Strong, but Shortwood were not finished.

They reduced the arrears with a hotly-disputed penalty from Gareth Davis and a brace from Craig Coles in just 15 second-half minutes.

Didcot were not to denied, however, and with the game deep into stoppage time, Strong waltzed past two challenges in the box before shooting home for his first hat-trick since his return to the club from Oxford City in December.

Harrow Hill 0, North Leigh 3

With both keepers required for county duty, Harrow Hill were forced to include outfield player Nick McKernon in goal and he acquitted himself well to restrict visitors North Leigh to three goals.

Even a blizzard sweeping across the Forest of Dean failed to dampen the home players' enthusiasm as they belied their lowly league position and made North Leigh work hard for their victory.

A low shot from Matt Hendra put North Leigh ahead in the 25th minute, and defender Gary Murphy pushed forward to score North Leigh's second with a left-foot drive just before the break.

North Leigh put the result beyond doubt midway through the second half when skipper Sean Bott headed in from Darren Maisey's pinpoint free kick.

Carterton Tn 3, Cirencester Acad 1

Driving rain and a snowstorm made this a game of two halves at Kilkenney Lane.

Carterton appeared to be more concerned about the weather as the visitors, with the wind at their backs, got on with the football early on.

Gareth Davies put them ahead after just ten minutes, before a flare-up after Scott Taylor's harsh tackle on a defender angered Cirencester's David Slattery, who struck out at Taylor. Taylor was booked, while Slattery got the red card.

Town took control of the second half and created chance after chance.

With only ten minutes left, substitute Mark Threlfall came on and prised open the Academy defence to let in new signing Pete Davis to level the scores on his debut.

Threlfall himself blasted Town's second four minutes later, and Des O'Connor completed the scoring.

Wantage Tn 0, Fairford Tn 0

This game was more like watching a tennis match as both teams attacked for virtually the whole 90 minutes.

Stoddard hit a post in the first minute for Fairford, while Lee Newport went close for Wantage after combining well with Jones and Burke.

The second half was also full of chances, but Coles and Stoddard for Fairford, and Spiero, Jones and Burke for Wantage, failed to find the mark.

Stoddard could have won it for Fairford in the dying minutes when he raced clear, but keeper Belcher and Broad combined to deny him.