ROVER Oxford maintained their position at the top of the Regional League with a hard fought 3-1 victory against strugglers British Airways.

Both sides started the game cautiously, with few clear-cut chances of any note during the opening passages of play.

A re-jigged Rover back line saw vice-captain Matthew Fisher slot in at full back and put in a man-of-the-match performance.

The opening goal soon came, a super flowing move finished off smartly by Rich Beer at the back post - his ninth goal of the season.

Beer then smashed the ball against the crossbar.

A disallowed British Airways goal saw Rover hold a slender lead at the interval.

Soon after the restart, BA's captain scored with a well-taken short corner.

This created some urgency among the Rover ranks and the second goal came after a long period of pressure, which included a missed penalty stroke by Beer.

Debutant James Neilson scored with a tremendous reverse stick strike.

BA's heads soon dropped which allowed Beer to double his tally for the game, after Dan Smyth had bamboozled the visiting back line.

Rover Oxford now go to PHC Chiswick this weekend in their last fixture before Christmas, looking for their eighth straight win in the league.