A MUCH-CHANGED Highworth Town side were easily swept aside by title-chasing Highmoor Ibis, falling to a 5-1 defeat at home last night.

Highworth chief John Fisher again opted to rest a big chunk of his regular first team, with Saturday’s FA Vase semi-final second leg away at North Shields in mind.

The Worthians were therefore always likely to struggle and they were never in the contest against Highmoor, who climbed to the top of the table with victory.

The visitors romped to an emphatic 4-0 lead by half-time, although things were brighter after in the second half for Highworth as that finished 1-1, with Josh Fowler on target for Fisher’s men.

Meanwhile, Tom Ballard snatched a late equaliser for Gareth Davies’ Fairford Town as they shared a hard-fought 1-1 draw at home to mid-table outfit Carterton in Division One West.