Wantage Town gave themselves some breathing space near the bottom of Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West with a resounding 4-0 victory away to fellow strugglers Bishops Cleeve on Saturday.
Before the match, Wantage boss Daniel Barry told his team there was nowhere to hide in their most important game of the season.
The players responded to his urgings to open up an eight-point gap between them and their hosts, who occupy the second relegation position.
Wantage took the lead after a scrappy first 24 minutes, when Nicholas Thorne fed George Reid, who cut in from the left wing and struck the ball sweetly.
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Even though Mitres keeper Harry Reynolds got a hand on the shot, he could not prevent it from going in.
After visiting keeper Gareth Tucker saved well from Cleeve’s Jack Watts, Wantage nearly made it 2-0 when Reece Bayliss was denied by Reynolds.
It was end-to -end stuff, with Tucker then relieved to see Jamal Lawrence shoot wide when clear.
Wantage doubled their tally in the 37th minute when Thorne was brought down in the box.
Ben Whitehead buried the penalty into the back of the net Although both teams were playing entertaining football in the second half, neither team was able to create any decent chances until the 65th minute, when the visitors made it 3-0 through the influential Thorne.
Sam Barder played a great ball between the home centre backs to be met by Thorne, who calmly slotted the ball past Reynolds.
With a handsome lead, the visitors took control of the game, although the Mitres did not give up.
Wantage left their best to the last. In the second minute of injury time, James Glover scored possibly their goal of the season.
From 35 yards out, he volleyed the ball on his weaker left foot, finding the top corner of the goal, giving keeper Reynolds absolutely no chance and completing a perfect day for Wantage.
Wantage Tn: Tucker, Carbon, Lovegrove (Barder 60), Cattell, Warne, Whiting, Bayliss (Haist 61), Johns (Glover 65), Whitehead, Thorne, Reid. Sub not used: Clark.
Attendance: 76.
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