FAIRFORD Town have one eye on the Hellenic League Division One West title after seeing off their closest challengers in emphatic style on Saturday.

Gareth Davies’ side travelled to Hook Norton knowing a defeat would put the hosts within a point of them at the summit, with two games in hand.

However, in the absence of Davies, assistant Ady Roper took the side and watched his troops battle to a 3-0 victory.

Steve Hall opened the scoring with half-an-hour gone when the ball broke to him down the left-hand side of the pitch and after cutting back in onto his less-favoured right foot, let fly into the corner of the goal.

Levi Cox netted Fairford’s second two minutes after the break as his shot was blocked initially but he was wary enough to pick up the rebound and put it past the goalkeeper.

Ben Mitchell, in the Fairford goal, had to be alert to keep the hosts at bay but Josh Morse wrapped up the three points when he broke free and slotted home close to the end.

“We’re doing alright without Gareth,” said Roper.

“It was a big part of our team talk because he couldn’t be there. We wanted to do it for him and I told the boys to do it for themselves.

“It wasn’t as comfortable as the 3-0 suggests.

“We had to work hard for it and we dug deep and had players in the right place at the right time.

“They defended really well, not just from the defence but the midfield as well, dropping back in and doing their fair share.

“We had to make two changes at half-time but we have got the strength-in-depth to be able to bring on Jason Milhench and Lee Smith.

“They upped their game in the second half but we matched them for work-rate and I think we couldn’t have asked for any more from the lads, and I was proud of every one of them.”

The win gives Fairford a five-point cushion at the top, with their nearest challengers Cirencester Town Development having played four games more, and Roper sees no reason why his side should not be targeting a step up in division.

“They have got the two games in hand and if they won both of those, that would put them one point behind us,” he added.

“The onus is still very much on us to hopefully carry on that sort of form we showed on Saturday and take it on to next week and the week after that, and so on.

“We want to really push on and try to get this league won, and push onto the next level.”

Elsewhere, Shrivenham held fourth-placed Easington Sports to a 1-1 draw away from home, while New College pulled off a surprise 2-1 win at home to Abingdon United.

Purton saw their game away to Tytherington Rocks postponed.