HIGHWORTH Town returned to winning ways in the Hellenic League Premier Division with a 4-2 victory at Oxford City Nomads on Saturday.

The visitors gained the lead on seven minutes as a Tony Joyce free-kick from the right was knocked in at the far post by Matty Horsell.

The match took an unusual turn soon after when the referee was forced off through injury, but the linesman filled the void and a spectator was recruited to run the line.

Oxford rallied after the early setback and duly equalised midway through the first period, with a further spell of pressure leaving the visiting Worthians fortunate to go in level at the break.

After the resumption Highworth opened up a two-goal lead as another Joyce set piece allowed the unmarked TJ Bohane to nod in from close range.

Joyce and Bohane were then involved in the build-up as recent signing Mark Barnes made a mug of the Oxford goalkeeper to take the score to 3-1.

The hosts pulled one back but Bohane made sure of the points late on when he headed beyond the home stopper, and the front man nearly rounded his afternoon off with a hat-trick, but fired just past the post when through on goal.

“It’s three good points, we didn’t play that well so it’s a good win,” said Highworth manager Dave Webb.

“It’s great to bounce back and we’ve got a week now to prepare for Slimbridge on Saturday.

“We always knew February was going to be a tough month but we can recharge our batteries now.”

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, struggling Fairford Town’s trip to Slimbridge resulted in a 2-0 defeat for Tommy Dryden’s men.

Meanwhile, in Division One West, Malmesbury Vics secured their second victory of the season in the absence of boss Mike Hartley, as they beat Cricklade Town 2-1.

Hartley has been in holiday in Australia but was yesterday due to fly back and should take charge for the away trip to Purton on February 26.

Purton ran out convincing 3-0 winners against Trowbridge with the goals coming courtesy of Tom Cadden, Ashley Gooch and Kyle Murdoch.

Elsewhere, Wootton Bassett Town and Shrivenham took 75 minutes to fizz into life in their Hellenic Premier derby encounter.

A Chris Cox header for Shrivvy, with just under quarter of an hour remaining, turned an insipid, action-starved match into a frenetic contest.

And John Fisher’s relegation-battling men seemed to have secured a crucial maximum haul, before Ethan Delaney conjured a goal out of nothing in the dying moments.

Until that point, Bassett boss Dave Turner’s prediction of a drab affair was fulfilled.

Only an unsuccessful penalty appeal from Shrivenham, after Dan Thompson appeared to be felled, livened matters at Rylands Way .