Two minutes of madness from visitors Blewbury resulted in three players seeing red, as they were leading 2-1 just before the half-time interval at title contenders Faringdon Town.
Blewbury's performance, which included a wonder strike from J-R Willis, had really threatened Town's unbeaten home record.
But keeper Joe Betteridge over-reacted when fouled to become the first player to go, and Sean Russell and Roger Crook followed for abusive language towards the referee.
Amazingly, Blewbury also led 3-2 while down to eight players, but Faringdon finally overpowered them to win 5-3. Town's scorers were Robbie Harrington, 16-year-old Tom Stone, Robert Owen, John Lovegrove and Mark Hetherington.
Leaders Drayton went ahead through Dean Godwin's header only to be pegged back by Wes Costar's penalty strike for Marcham immediately afterwards. Dave Stanley put Drayton back in front before half-time and they saw out the game to win 2-1.
Division 2 leaders Steventon were made to work hard for the points that guaranteed promotion, as a Nick Smith finish and an own goal gave them a 2-1 win over basement side Stanford-in-the-Vale.
Second-placed Coleshill United found their shooting boots with a 6 -1 win at lowly Warborough & Shillingford.
In Division 4, Ardington & Lockinge Reserves won 2-0 at battling Uffington United, thanks to a solid defensive display with Chris Hogan and Tom Weeks again on target.
Kenny Hope put Drayton Reserves ahead against the run of play at rejuvenated Buckland Reserves but 57-year-old Neil Crosby stabbed home a second-half equaliser after an overhead attempt by Steven Holder was blocked.
Marcham Reserves move into second place as they hit Challow United 5-2. Huw Mellor (2), Brian Viner, Adrian Green and Richard Pottinger finding the back of the net.
Stanford-in-the-Vale Reserves boosted their promotion chances by thumping AFC. Benson Reserves 6-1 Gary Welsh banged in four goals, while Robert Crook grabbed two more, to make it five in two matches.
In the Nairne Paul Cup semi-finals, Coleshill United Reserves sprang a surprise as they put out last season's finalists Saxton Rovers Reserves with the only goal scored by Chris Quinton in the 50th minute.
Facing them in the final at Milton United, will be AFC Wallingford A, who finally broke the resistance of Faringdon Town Reserves with a 76th-minute goal from player-manager Carl Fisher. Faringdon's John Painter performed miracles to deny Wallingford at times.
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