A LATE goal from Mark Belcher gave Highworth a 2-1 win over local rivals Fairford Town in a hard-fought Premier Division game at The Elms.
It was Highworth's third win on the trot and gave them an outside shout of the title should the leaders slip up.
Highworth who went ahead on 11 minutes with a controversial effort from Tate Hulbert.
Fairford unsuccessfully claimed that they had cleared Hulbert's shot before it had crossed the line.
But a good move involving several players brought the equaliser for Fairford. Carl Stevenson finished off the move tucking away a neat goal past Steve Hale.
After the break the game remained even. Neither side carved out any clear-cut opportunities but minutes from time Highworth grabbed a last-gasp winner.
Substitute Paul Day delivered a telling cross and Belcher pounced to score from eight yards and win a tight derby clash.
Purton look to have an uphill fight on their hands in the second leg of the Supplementary Cup after going down 3-1 against visitors Southall Town.
Despite starting well Purton went a goal down on the half hour when goalkeeper Luke Alford's clearance fell to Michael Meaker and he lobbed Alford from 30 yards.
Another defensive mistake cost the home side dear 10 minutes into the second-half Alford beaten to the ball at the edge of the area and Meaker adding his second.
Purton fought back and reduced the arrears with Ben Parsons scoring a 25-yard effort.
Eight minutes from time the visitors added a third Meaker completing his hat-trick despite appeals for offside from the home team and their supporters.
Wootton Bassett picked up three valuable points beating visitors Bishops Cleeve 2-1 in a bad tempered game. The home side took an early lead when a cross by Geoff Swatton was converted by Tony Macek.
But tempers flared after a heavy tackle on Swatton which prompted a scuffle between both sets of players.
Proceedings remained lively and despite several heavy tackles the referee managed to keep his red card in his pocket.
With just three minutes remaining Bassett's Ben Gascoigne made sure of the points, pouncing on a mistake from the visitors' keeper John Skeen. Bishops Cleeve did grab a consolation goal but Bassett held on.
Shrivenham picked up a useful point at Headington in a 1-1 draw Jim Queenan putting the visitors ahead early in the second-half. But Headington levelled on the hour.
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