FAIRFORD and Highworth continue to slug it out on the periphery of the Premier Division title race after both clubs picked up maximum points at the weekend.

In-form Fairford moved up to seventh with their fourth successive win, thumping Shortwood 5-2, while Highworth were made to work harder than expected in a 1-0 triumph at Almondsbury to keep them a place behind their local rivals in the table.

Fairford had their new-look strike force to thank for a comprehensive victory.

Phil Corcoran claimed an early brace and fellow forward Neil Matthews hit a hat-trick to leave manager Mark Webb singing the pair's praises.

"We were deadly in front of goal," said Webb.

"Phil and Neil were superb throughout and so clinical with their chances.

"They have struck up a great partnership."

Corcoran got the ball rolling with two goals inside 20 minutes.

Chris Hughes played in the recent signing from Stratton for the first and the second was a delightful chip from distance.

Corcoran then teed up Matthews to make it 3-0 before the break.

Matthews struck twice more in the second half, while Shortwood reduced arrears with two late consolation goals.

Adam Giles pounced in the 75th minute to hand Highworth victory in their first league fixture of 2004.

Pete Macklin should have broken the deadlock in the first half but shot wide.

Giles stooped to head home Matt Jack's free-kick with 15 minutes to go.

The striker should have made it 2-0 but fired over from point-blank range late on.

Highworth boss John Fisher said: "Almondsbury were more route one than I expected and it was nervy until Adam scored. But we got the three points and that keeps us in there with the other top sides."

Elsewhere in the Premier, Southall left Rylands Way with three points as former Welsh international Michael Meaker proved to be Wootton Bassett's downfall.

The Bassett back four kept Meaker quiet for the majority of the first half and Dave Jones also had the chance to give Bassett the lead but was denied by Southall keeper Ben Miles.

Meaker finally broke the deadlock on 31 minutes after a long ball pierced the Bassett defence and the forward blasted past youngster Steve Bizley between the sticks.

Bizley denied the dangerous Meaker on a number of occasions and Bassett seemingly pinched a point four minutes from time when substitute Ben Gascoyne latched onto a through ball and chipped past Miles.

But Meaker cruelly denied the hosts a minute later, taking the ball around the Bassett defence and finishing coolly.

Pewsey Vale gave themselves a lifeline in the fight against relegation with a 2-1 home win over Chipping Norton.

Division One West leaders Purton are still unbeaten after a 3-2 win over Harrow Hill at the Red House.

Alan Clark's men trailed 1-0 to Carl Woodruffe's goal at half-time.

But they hit back with headers from Tom Dingle and Jenny Hawkins after the restart and substitute Mitchell Wyatt scored on his debut before Woodruffe pulled one back at the death.

Clark said: "We didn't play well in the first half so I read the riot act at half-time and we came out and scored three within about 10 minutes.

"Three-two looks close on paper but it was more comfortable than that in the end."

A dominant first-half display put Shrivenham on the way to maximum points at home to Old Woodstock.

Michael Silvanus, Alex Green, Steve Winchcombe and Jon Peters netted in the first 45 minutes to give Shrivenham an unassailable 4-0 lead.

Old Woodstock pulled one back from the spot with 15 minutes to go as the game ended 4-1.

Fourth-placed Shrivenham remain 10 points behind leaders Purton, but with two games in hand.

Manager Alan Dyton said: "Our last three results have been won with the performances that we have been looking for.

"The progress has been slower than I expected but we are now becoming a good side at the right time."