A superb free-kick by Michael Hopkins earned North Leigh a 1-0 victory in their tight Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West match at home to last season’s FA Vase winners Sholing on Saturday.

A scrappy game at Eynsham Park was decided by one moment of quality in the 59th minute.

Elliott Osborne-Ricketts was fouled by a Sholing defender in a dangerous position right of the visitors’ penalty area 22 yards from goal.

Hopkins took the kick and curled a delightful shot into the top far corner of Sholing keeper Matt Brown’s goal.

It was a deserved victory for the Millers, who made the early running.

Their best chance of the first half came when Callum McNish’s defencesplitting pass found Jamie Cook.

But with only Brown to beat, Cook managed to clip the ball wide of the far post.

Sholing went close when a corner taken by Kevin Brewster was headed wide by their captain and best player Barry Mason.

At the start of the second half, Cook had another great chance to open the scoring, but crucially delayed his shot after breaking clear.

After the goal, Mason had two half chances to snatch a point.

First, he beat North Leigh defender Stuart Hole to a lofted Sholing clearance, but shot wide from close in.

Right at the death, Brewster’s corner was headed on by Owen Roundell to Mason, who blasted over, but the Millers held on to complete their home programme with a win.

North Leigh: Bulman, Else, Hopkins, Hole, Westlake, Caton, Bowles, Osborne-Ricketts (Turk 86), Cook, Sanders (Linford-Pill 45), McNish Sub not use: Gunn Attendance: 88.

On Saturday, Oxfordshire Senior Cup finalists North Leigh complete their league season away to Clevedon Town.

Meanwhile, Zak Westlake celebrated a treble at North Leigh’s annual presentation night.

As well as winning the coveted players’ player and the manager’s player accolades he also shared the supporters’ player of the year award, with midfielder Callum McNish.

Elsewhere, Ducklington won the Oxford Mail Youth Under 14 League Knockout Cup with a 4-0 victory against Cumnor Minors at Milton United on Saturday, thanks to goals from Jack Bellenger (2), Ryan Jarvis and Freddie Buckingham.