Kidlington 1, Pewsey Vale 2

Pewsey were given an uncomfortable ride throughout by plucky Kidlington, who stunned their high-flying visitors when Steve Litten capitalised on a mistake by Darren Cumming to open the scoring in the fourth minute.

Top scorer Craig Wall might have equalised for the visitors six minutes later, but could only direct his header from a Steve Thomas cross into the arms of the grateful Peter Lowe.

Pewsey thought they had grabbed a leveller moments later when the ball appeared to cross the Kidlington goalline following a corner, only for the referee to wave away the furious protests of the visiting players.

The visitors failed to find the form that has seen them go four months unbeaten in all competitions and could have fallen further behind on the hour when skipper Tony Dyer upended Litten inside the area.

Frazer Gills stepped up to take the kick, but failed to test Clark in the Pewsey goal as he sent a tame effort wide of the target.

Pewsey introduced Micky Goodwin for Doug Imrie after the interval and on were on level terms in the 63rd minute when the substitute's corner was headed home at the near post by Dyer.

Clark then tipped an effort from Gills over the bar as the Kidlington man looked to atone for his dreadful penalty miss, before Day was foiled at the other end by a fine save from Lowe.

But the Pewsey striker was not to be denied and kept his side at the summit of the Division West table when he netted the decisive goal in the 85th minute.

Pewsey boss Don Rogers admitted he had breathed a sigh of relief after Day's late effort.

He said: "We used a bit of our luck up and that's the first game in a very long while that we could have lost.

"We got away with it with their penalty, which I have to say was the worst I have seen in my life. The ball bobbled past the post and I just don't know what happened.

"I couldn't see us scoring until we got one from a back-header from a corner. It was all us after that and was just a matter of whether we could score again or not.

"I think we only had three chances in the whole game, but you've got to have luck on your side in football and hopefully we've not used up all of ours in one game."

Promotion rivals Ross Town and Winterbourne both dropped points at the weekend, leaving leaders Pewsey and second placed Hook Norton five points clear of the rest with two games in hand.

Pewsey face two crucial games over the Easter period, with a home game against Hook Norton on Saturday, before travelling to third placed Ross on Monday.

Rogers is in typically confident mood going into the promotion double-header.

He said: "Ross are beginning to struggle and I reckon they're out of it already. We'd have to lose four matches in order for them to catch us now.

"The Hook Norton game is a big one for us, but our players usually do well in the games against the better sides.

"Looking at their results, they don't seem to score many and have struggled against some of the half-decent sides in the league.

"I'm sure they will be more worried than we will, put it like that."

Pewsey have also collected the Division One West Team of the Month for February.

Rogers said: "It's about time and all. We've not lost a game since December 7, so I think we deserve it.

"I suppose it is the right time to win it, towards the end of the season. You don't want to be winning these awards in August."

Shrivenham beat Cirencester United 4-1, Green and Ayres scoring in the first half, Pew and Telling after the interval. McSherry scored for United.

Purton 1, Finchampstead 0

PURTON were in cup semi-final action, defeating Division One East side Finchampstead 1-0 in the first leg of the Supplementary Cup.

Manager Alan Clarke was pleased with his side, who were giving away weight and height to a big home side.

"We have got half a job done and we must make sure we are not complacent next week at the Red House."

Purton started well and Alan Webb was unlucky early on when he chipped the keeper, but the ball hit the post and ran along the line before being cleared.

The only goal came on the hour when a long clearance by Jim Igoe was picked up by Steve Tucker who lobbed the keeper from 40 yards, then ran past him to crash the ball home.

Despite pressure from the home side, Purton hung on to their lead and both Tucker and Avenell almost added further goals for the visitors.

Gloucester United gained revenge for their midweek Floodlit Cup Final defeat by Fairford as they beat the Cinder Lane side 5-1 in the Complete Music Challenge Cup semi-final first leg.

Disappointed Fairford boss Mark Webb said: "We were dreadful, it was our worst performance of the season. We gave away some stupid goals and we will have to work hard to pull four goals back in the second leg.

"I warned the lads not to be complacent because they are a good side and deserve their place at the top of the premier division. That was the sixth time we have played each other and there always seem to be plenty of goals scored."