Hellenic Premier Division

Highworth Town 3

Fairford Town 1

HIGHWORTH Town returned to the top of the Premier Division table after a 3-1 victory over Fairford Town on Saturday afternoon, with both sides ending with ten men after a feisty derby encounter, writes Chris Tanner.

The visitors, who lost 3-1 to promotion hopefuls Thatcham Town a week ago, were caught out inside the first minute when former Fairford winger Jason Milhench connected with a deep cross to open the scoring from close range.

Both sides had chances to add to the scoreline during the remainder of the first half, which was played out in front of an expectant crowd of 120.

The second goal of the game arrived eight minutes into the second period when Ashley Edenborough met a cross from Aaron Ferris to finish from close range against his former club.

Fairford then got back into the encounter just four minutes later. On loan striker Conor Lynch produced a composed finish, a neat turn and shot for his third goal in Reds’ colours to make it 2-1 with half-an-hour remaining.

The home side sealed the points 66 minutes in with substitute Rory Sproule firing a powerful drive past Ben Mitchell to seal the victory which would send the Worthians back to the top of the table.

Fairford’s Steve Hall was shown a straight red card late on for a challenge on Josh Jones, with Edenborough also dismissed as tempers flared during the closing stages.

Fairford Town: Mitchell; M Hall, Brian, Hawkins, Saunders; Bailey, Boucher, Newman, Gardner; Lynch, Smith

Substitutes: S Hall, Reynolds, Hemming, Bevan

Attendance: 120