DEAD ball specialist Steve Thomas helped Shrivenham to a 3-0 home win over Pegasus Juniors on Saturday to keep their faint Hellenic Premier League title hopes alive.

Thomas rifled in two carbon-copy free-kicks as Shrivenham closed the gap on leaders Didcot to seven points, albeit having played two more games.

Goalkeeper Luke Alford made his second penalty save in successive weeks, with Mark Peters again the offender, while a breakaway goal from Liam Thompson was sandwiched by Thomas's brace.

Boss Alan Dyton admitted the result flattered his all-conquering side.

He said:"We just did not seem to be able to get our passing game together and kept giving the ball away which consequently allowed them too much of the ball.

"Defensively though we were rock solid and that has become a big part in our good run of results."

Shrivenham top scorer Alex Green wasted an early chance before Pegasus came into the game without creating chances.

Thomas eventually broke the deadlock with a fierce free-kick and soon after the break Thompson latched on to a through ball from Andy Brien to double the lead.

Alford spared Peters' blushes with a diving penalty save before Thomas fired another free-kick into the roof of the net.

Fairford Town boss Kevin Maloney insists the signs for the future are good despite watching his side slump to a 2-1 defeat at Carterton.

The result leaves them fourth from bottom but Maloney is confident the points will come soon.

He said: "It was a good performance. We played quite well in the first half and in the second we were all over them. We are playing some lower sides soon and that will be our chance to turn performances into results."

Neil Matthews headed home from Paul Hunt's cross to reduce the arrears after the break but spurned chances saw them leave poiintless.

A Dave Godley brace helped Highworth Town to a 4-2 home win over Abingdon.

Sean Terry and Nathan Holt had put the hosts 2-0 up at the break but after Godley made it three, Abingdon threatened a comeback with two quick goals.

Godley calmed any nerves late on but boss John Fisher was not happy with the display.

He said: "Considering our last two performances we did not play well. They had a few chances and we were probably fortunate to win."

n IT may have been four years since striker Lee Stoddart left Wootton Bassett, but boss Paul Burke believes the Rylands Way outfit has never recovered.

The former Bassett marksman is now playing his trade at Fairford Town, after a spell at Yate, and after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Easington, Burke admits his goalscoring talents have been sorely missed.

He said: "All the top sides have players who can get you 30 goals and I really believe we are just that one player away from really competing with the top sides.

"It was a blow 17-year-old Mark King injured his knee ligaments because he has real potential of being that goal scorer we miss."

A Steve Yeardley penalty on the stroke of half-time levelled matters, after Perry Hawkins' third minute opener had given Easington a dream start.

Burke said: "People are saying we are having a disappointing season but the lack of games we have played makes the table deceptive."

A penalty apiece saw Purton drew 1-1 at Headington Amateurs with Marcus Hall converting for the visitors.

Cricklade won at Cheltenham Saracens 3-2 while Cirencester United crashed 3-2 at Letcombe.