SAXTON Rovers head the North Berks League Division 1 table after leaping to the top with a 5-1 win at home to Faringdon Town on Saturday, writes Phil Annetts.

A hat-trick by Tom Stanley and one each from Garry Hartley and Danny Parry put Saxton top of the tree, with Faringdon's sole reply coming from Tommy James.

They lead the way after overnight leaders Berinsfield were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Wallingford Town.

Abingdon Town came from two down to win 3-2 at East Hendred.

Shane McGowran and Ben Hummel had given their hosts the lead, but goals from Rob Lightfoot, Mike Kent and Steve Pitson brought all three points to Abingdon.

Long Wittenham Athletic were involved in a ding-dong battle at home to Drayton, finally winning 4-3 with Joe Murphy, Callum Heapy, Matt Saunders and Steve Molloy on the scoresheet.

Nathan Merry, with two, and Luke Black ultimately scored in vain for Drayton.

Crowmarsh Gifford became the latest team to inflict defeat on Dorchester, winning 3-1 courtesy of a Liam Bonner double and a James Lee effort. Ben Parry registered for Dorchester.

Division 2 leaders Stanford in the Vale went down 2-0 at home to Burghclere, who now sit just one point behind after goals from Curtis Angell and Alex Smith.

Hanney United and Sutton Courtenay were involved in a seven-goal thriller, with the away side winning 4-3.

Jonathan Phair (2) and James Carlini netted for Hanney, but two goals from Lewis Collacott and one each from Rhys Griffiths and Stuart Kerby won the match for Sutton.

In a basement battle, Marcham ran out 2-1 winners to leapfrog their opponents Faringdon Town Res. Stuart Armstrong scored both their goals, with James Tyler netting for Faringdon.

Harwell Village have opened up a nine-point gap at the top of Division 3 following their 5-2 home win over Hungerford Town Swifts, thanks in large part to a four-timer from Paul Powell.

Gareth Fenton grabbed their fifth while Lloyd Ponsford and Tommy Stockwell scored for Hungerford.

Westminster beat fellow Division 2 side Watlington Town 4-3 in the third round of the North Berks Cup thanks to a Harry Ackland hat-trick.

Sam Dallimore netted their fourth while Graham Hall, Chris Little and Luke Yeulet scored in vain for Watlington.

OTHER SCORERS

Div 3: Compton 5 (E Goatley 2, C Baker, J Baker, M Booroff), Newbury Res 0; Union Street 0, North Oxford 1 (D Boyles).

Div 4: Hagbourne Utd 1 (L Kitchener), Stanford in the Vale Res 7 (J Gregory 2, O Bailey 2, C Buckell, D Lewis, J Wilkins); Wallingford Tn Res 5 (E Sears, M Newbold, M Bone, C Passey, J Webber), Berinsfield Res 3 (J Welch 2, A Samson); Kennington Ath 3 (M Crossan 2, D Drinkwater), Abingdon Tn Res 2 (K Brown 2).

Div 5: North Oxford Res 4 (L Trinder, C Stevens, A Smith, A Pantry), Didcot Eagles 1 (B Hammond); Grove Rgrs Res 2 (M Cramp, J Naish), Hanney 66 1 (P Robinson); Steventon Res 1 (T O’Reilly), Watlington Tn Res 2 (D Macbeth, D Clifford); Marcham Res 2 (M Bloomfield, C Kelly), Uffington Utd Res 6 (P Byrne 3, D Mastalerz 2, G Haines).