Didcot upset the form book as they won a exciting Boxing Day Oxfordshire derby 2-1 against promotion-chasing North Leigh at the Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow.
North Leigh will count themselves unfortunate not to have taken all three Calor League Division 1 South & West points, but Didcot showed tremendous spirit to prevail in a thrilling finish, capped by Germaine Ofori’s late strike.
The first half was dominated by the visitors. Jacob Walcott brought a fine save out of Didcot keeper Alex Williams on 20 minutes.
Soon after, Williams had to produce an even better block to deny Conor McDonough.
Wayne Turk wastefully headed wide another great chance for the visitors and they were punished when Ben Whitehead crashed home a free-kick before half-time to put Didcot one up.
It took North Leigh just 30 seconds after the break to level, Morgan Williams turning the ball past his brother Alex despite the efforts of Luke Carnell to clear.
Elliott Osborne-Ricketts and Morgan Williams both rattled the woodwork for the visitors as they applied more pressure on the Didcot backline.
However, there was a sting in the tail. Ofori, on loan at Didcot from Reading Academy, hooked home from close range to put Didcot ahead again on 78 minutes.
And Ofori missed a sitter shortly afterwards from close range.
North Leigh applied plenty of late pressure, but Didcot stood firm.
Didcot: A Williams, Elkins, Janes, McKirnan (Baines 68), Carnell, S Parish, Thorne (L Williams 68), Longford, Ofori, Mills, Whitehead.
North Leigh: Kane, Hole, Dobson, Turk, Gunn, Westlake, Bowles, Osborne-Ricketts, McDon-ough, M Williams, Walcott.
Attendance: 143.
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