FOOTBALL: Wantage are sent packing (From The Oxford Times)

FOOTBALL: Wantage are sent packing

10:30am Monday 30th January 2012 in Football

It was downhill all the way after the reigning Uhlsport Southern League Premier Division champions Wantage Town opened the scoring at home to Highworth, who recovered to win 4-1.

Wantage took the lead after 11 minutes. Gavin Jones worked the ball across the hesitant Highworth defence, his shot being turned across the line, almost out of the arms of Highworth keeper Kurtis Sharkey, by the predatory Richie Claydon.

Within four minutes the visitors were level, Dan Wallington drilling a cross into the box, where it was met by the alert Josh Parsons, who guided the ball unopposed past keeper Gareth Tucker.

In the 37th minute, Parsons shot on the turn to put the visitors in front.

Replacing the injured central defender Stuart Cattell with Tom Rowe, Wantage put the visitors briefly under early second-half pressure.

But Highworth dominated the play, adding further goals from Ben Curtis and Rory Sproule.

Oxford City Nomads won 2-0 at Flackwell Heath, with their goals coming from Albi Skendi and Conor McDonagh.

Kidlington had a welcome win, beating struggling Witney Town 3-1 with second-half goals from Danny Mason, Danny Leggett and Ryan Curtin.

Witney had scored first through Shaun Webb on the half-hour.

Thame United won 2-1 against Shrivenham thanks to goals from Alex Stewart and Ben Connelly.