SPORTING Headington Academicals put in a fantastic effort before going down 5-4 at home to Premier Division outfit Barton United in the fourth round of the Critchleys UTV League's Devenney Cup, writes Tim Siret.

Barton led 3-0 and 5-3, but their Division 2 opponents just would not lie down.

Tim Wright grabbed a hat-trick for Headington, with an own goal completing their tally.

But Barton were too good, with an Aaron Williams double and strikes from Ben Strong, Joe Cook and Paul Hedger taking them into the quarter-finals.

First division side Railway Wheatley steamed past struggling Premier Division hosts Yellow Eagles 5-1.

Dan Smith (2), Tom Wilson, Shaun Liptrot and Seb Warne were on target, with Ben Crawford the Eagles’ sole scorer.

Second division outfit Abingdon Exiles ended the spirited run of AFC Brightwell, from Division 3, as they ran out 4-1 winners.

Exiles can thank John Hudson for his brace with Leigh McKiernan and Ben Parry also scoring.

The Brightwell goal came from Jack McLaughlin.

The Tree Grove secured a 5-2 victory at Northway Boys & Girls Res, with Jonny Eudell’s hat-trick leading the way.

Rob Joyce and Adam Bruce were also on target, while Mike Yearwood grabbed both goals for the Oxford outfit.

Freeland Yeoman went down 6-4 in a high-scoring tie at Sutton Wanderers, for whom Chris Stringer hit a hat-trick.

Jake Lewis (2) and Charlie Bishop grabbed their other goals, while Richard Trigg replied for Yeoman with his own treble, Danny Taylor completing the tally.

In the outstanding third round tie, Kings Arms Wheatley disposed of hosts AFC Jericho 6-2 thanks to a hat-trick from Tom Payne, plus efforts from Jay Hill, Olly Zaja and Luke Cuff.

Alex Siva and Dan New hit back for Jericho. Brightwell FC closed the gap at the top of Division 1 to two points with a 2-0 success at Rutherford Lab. Bradley Chalmers and Andy Gibbons netted in each half as Brightwell moved in on leaders Red Lion, who were without a match.

Zubry Oxford, who have four games in hand on the leaders and are just eight points behind, won 4-1 at home to AFC Crowmarsh.

Tomasc Samoluk, Marcin Samoluk, player-manager Andrzej Krason and Piotr Szafraniec were on target.

Northway Boys & Girls recorded their first victory since October with a 5-0 success at struggling Standlake Garage.

Liam O’Sullivan hit a second-half hat-trick to supplement goals from Charlie Dunsmuir and Will Oliver.

Adam McMahon scored all four goals for White Horse Abingdon, but they still crashed 7-4 away to Iffley Harriers in Division 2.

Leon Carter and Andy Campbell both struck twice for the Harriers, with Cairan Clancy, Rob Lees and Martin Taylor also scoring.