Football North Leigh Victory Maintains Title Bid (from Witney Gazette)

North Leigh stayed three points clear at the top of the Premier Division after a slender victory over their west Oxfordshire rivals before a crowd of 272 on Saturday.

Mark Gee's men have now beaten all three of their title rivals on the road in recent weeks, but this will have been the sweetest of them all as they maintained their push for the title.

Witney went close to taking the lead when Andy Marriott headed over from a Jon Steedman corner, and Marriott went close again, but directed a header just wide.

The visitors went in front when Chris Allen delivered a ball in between two Witney defenders and Joe Burnell stole in with a diving header, giving Chris Webb no chance.

But Witney were soon level as Steedman's excellent cross was met by the head of Gary Wickens for his 35th goal of the season.

Having restored parity so quickly, it was a big setback for Witney when North Leigh immediately regained the lead.

A free-kick 20 yards from goal saw James Mortimer-Jones fire into the bottom corner.

In the second half, Andrew Younie saw a shot grabbed by Barrett at the second attempt.

But the keeper almost gifted Witney an equaliser when his free-kick into the wind fell to Wickens, whose chip landed on the roof of the net.

Ben Reardon saw a low shot well saved by Webb, and two minutes later, Andy McCabe's goalbound shot was cleared off the line by Luke Brandon.

Witney had a great chance to snatch a point with a couple of minutes left, but Kevin Lewis was denied by Stuart Huxley.

Witney continued to press forward in time added on, but with Huxley and Dodds resolute to the end, North Leigh held on for a crucial victory.

With Hungerford boosting their goal difference in a 9-0 demolition of Wallingford, it's a three-way title race with North Leigh holding a three-point lead over the Berkshire outfit and Almondsbury Town, both of whom have games in hand.

Clanfield produced arguably their worst performance of the season as Launton completed a league double in Division 1 West.

They fell behind when they were caught napping on the left, and the ball fell to Danny Green, who finished coolly past Chris Brain.

Clanfield then had half a chance when Dean Barker's shot was well saved by Danny Clifford, but this was the closest they came in a forgettable first half.

Nine minutes after the break, the home side doubled their lead when the impressive Jonathan Feaver netted with a fine volley, giving Brain no chance.

Clanfield's Eddie Everett hit the bar in the dying minutes, but this was a day to forget.

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