FAIRFORD Town got their promotion charge back on track in Hellenic League Division One West with a 5-3 at local rivals Purton on Saturday.

Cinder Lane manager Gareth Davies was seething following his side’s shock defeat at Letcombe last Tuesday and vowed that his players would not put in a repeat performance.

And the Fairford outfit delivered on their promise as they stormed into a 4-0 lead at the break before taking a 5-1 advantage into the final six minutes.

Josh Morse fired the visitors into an early lead at with a 35-yard screamer before Lee Smith doubled the advantage in the 13th minute with a deflected strike.

Levi Cox added a third for Fairford after some good build-up play before Smith bagged his second on the stroke of half-time.

Joe Hiscock reduced the arrears for Purton early after the break when he headed home Joe Dorey’s cross.

However, Smith restored the visitors’ four-goal lead with his third of the afternoon when turning home Morse’s pass.

Justin Miller’s men fought until the end in tough conditions at the Red House with substitute Peter McGunigall drilling home the hosts’ second in the 84th minute.

Joe Herbert also came off the bench to bag a goal for Purton, however, Fairford hung on to claim all three points and close the gap on league leaders Hook Norton to five points with a game in hand and the two teams meeting on February 11 in Oxfordshire.

“I think that was what we required – we needed a reaction after Tuesday and the lads delivered,” Davies said.

“What happened at Letcombe was not acceptable. The lads all knew what was expected of them against Purton and they did the job.

“The early goal definitely settled us down and I think we controlled proceedings in the first half.

“Maybe in the second half we turned off a little, but it was tough going out there for both teams.

“You never want to concede three goals, but I don’t think that there was much that Ben (Mitchell) could do a lot about two of them.

“But after what happened on Tuesday it was all about getting three points.”

The downside for Fairford at Purton was picking up two injuries with Luke Cordery limping off in the 21st minute with a hamstring problem, while Sean Wood, who is on a dual registration with Southern League Division One South and West high-flyers Evesham United, came off with ankle ligament damage.