FREELAND were made to work hard before they took a step closer to the Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division title.

Struggling Middleton Cheney frustrated the leaders for 78 minutes, until Jack Morton struck the only goal of the game to maintain their six-point cushion at the top.

Aaron Dineen hit a hat-trick as second-placed Cropredy did all they could to keep the pressure on.

Their unbeaten run was extended to ten games following the 6-1 thrashing of Mansfield Road at Williamscot Road.

The visitors struck the first blow, taking the lead in the fourth minute through Jaime Driver’s header.

Clark Berry equalised from Kevin Cooper’s knock-down on 24 minutes, but Cropredy had to wait until the second half to get in front.

Dan Reeves converted a disputed penalty, opening the floodgates.

Dineen, who had been fouled in the box, made it 3-1, before setting up Reeves for his second of the afternoon.

And there was still time for Dineen to add two more goals to complete his treble.

Goals from Foley Sercombe and Frankie Merola gave Kennington a 2-0 wn over Yarnton, which took them up to third place.

Horspath won 3-1 at struggling Garsington to put more space between themselves and the bottom three.

Third-placed Hanborough strengthened their challenge in Division 1 with a 3-1 success at rivals Summertown Stars.

Kian Farrell was on target for the second-placed Stars, who would have leapfrogged leaders Chesterton if they had avoided defeat.

But Ellis Williams’s brace and a goal from Jamie Hodges did the damage, meaning the top three are now separated by a single point.

Jae Sharkey and Billy Young fired hat-tricks to keep Marston Saints Res on course for the Division 2 crown.

Tyrone Brackett and Richard Hathaway also notched in the 8-0 home win over Chinnor A.

Yarnton Res also hit eight as they secured a top-two finish.

Jamie Smith (4), Martin Oynyanov (2), Andy Paine and Jack Stuart secured an 8-2 triumph over visitors Hanborough Res.