Bicester Town overcame the sending-off of Charlie Bough to rescue a point with a battling 1-1 draw at home to Almondsbury Town in Sport Italia Hellenic League on Saturday.

Bough was dismissed for a head-butt during a melee five minutes before half-time.

By then, Bicester were already behind.

Almondsbury took the lead in the 20th minute when a rehearsed free-kick gave Paul Fowler space to curl in a shot which came back off a post and struck home defender Vinny Bifield before rolling into the net.

The home side rallied, but their task was made more difficult by Bough's dismissal.

Bicester's ten men looked the stronger side early in the second half, and impressive loanee Marcus McGillycuddy smashed in an unstoppable shot to equalise in the 65th minute.

Bicester created numerous chances to win the game, but could not find the net.

A dogged display saw Witney grind out a 1-0 victory against Highworth Town, who failed to have a single shot on target.

Mark McMeeking and Ben Border missed Witney's best chances in the first half, while Highworth's Matt Pratley blazed wildly over the bar.

The only goal came from a penalty four minutes into the second half.

A long ball by John McMahon was held up by Lee Keyes who fed Mark Simms.

His feet were clipped by a defender, and Keyes sent Highworth keeper Ian Gill the wrong way for his second penalty in successive home matches.

Witney stayed in charge, but could not add to their tally. Chris Johnson saw his shot deflected onto the bar, while Gill saved well from Stuart Douglas.

Kidlington were denied a fourth straight win by the heroics of title-chasing Slimbridge's keeper Ryan Chandler in a goalless draw.

The home side dominated the 90 minutes, but were unable to convert any of their numerous chances.

Although there were no goals, there was plenty of action, with Kidlington's classy Matty Brandish and Denell Thomas at the heart of it.

In the first half, young striker Chris Gilkes hesitated when clear, while Morgan Williams saw a ferocious shot saved by Chandler with his face!

In the second half, Kidlington again set th pace, although Joe Tustin twice went close for the visitors.

Kidlington substitute Ben Moses caused Slimbridge problems, and was twice denied by Chandler, once with a magnificent diving save.

Wantage Town went down to a 1-0 defeat at Shrivenham.

Shrivenham keeper Daryl Simms and his opposite number Terry Burton each pulled off a brilliant save.

But that praiseworthy action apart, the only other piece of football to deserve credit was the spendidly-worked Shrivenham goal when Mark Peters headed home, unchallenged by a statuesque Wantage defence.

The rest of the game was poor fare for the spectators.

A strike on the hour by Phil Martin clinched the points for Ardley and enabled them to close within a point of leaders North Leigh with a 1-0 victory.