Wantage Town let slip the lead as they went down to a 2-1 defeat away to the Southern League Division 1 South & West play-off chasers Shortwood United on Saturday.

The loss saw Wantage remain fourth bottom of the table, six points above the drop zone.

Daniel Barry’s side had led before the break through a Ben Whitehead penalty, only for a second-half revival to win it for the home side.

The visitors started the stronger and had a good shout for a penalty turned down, before they took a shock lead on 28 minutes.

Whitehead was brought down as he headed for goal and the former Banbury United midfielder dusted himself down before firing the resulting spot-kick past Tom King in the Shortwood goal.

The shell-shocked home side turned up the pressure, but struggled to get through Wantage's rearguard, though Josh Klein-Davis did spurn two decent chances.

Shortwood were handed a great chance to level when veteran keeper Jeff Simmonds brought down Klein-Davies.

However, the stopper clawed Klein-Davies's spot-kick onto a post and away to safety as the visitors went in 1-0 at the break.

Three minutes into the second half, Shortwood equalised through Klein-Davies.

And the same player scored the hosts' winner on 59 minutes from a Marley Thomas cross.

Wantage tried to get an equaliser, but Shortwood held firm.