Ardley United kept up the pressure at the top of the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division with a 1-0 win at fellow title-challengers Ascot United on Tuesday.

However, the victory was not enough to cut the gap on leaders Wantage Town who stayed two points clear with a 4-2 win at Highworth Town.

On Saturday, Kevin Brock’s side lost top spot to their Oxon rivals, who took advantage of Ardley’s inactivity.

It was the visitors who came closest to scoring in the first half of Tuesday’s clash, when Ryan Brooks cut inside before seeing his well-struck shot fizz past the far post.

Ardley started to get a grip in the second half and were rewarded with the only goal on 74 minutes.

Brooks was tripped in the area and Callum Convey slotted the resulting penalty.

The visitors then held on without too much difficulty.

Last Thursday, Ardley reac-hed the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final for the first time with a 2-0 win against Oxford City at Thame United.

City started the brighter, with Jack Harding superbly denying Josh O’Hanlon.

He then got down quickly to again deny the forward.

So it was against the run of play that Ardley went ahead three minutes from half-time.

A long clearance from Har-ding was headed on by Jon Gardner to Brooks, who nip-ped in between keeper Mark Scott and a defender to run on and shoot home.

Ardley took control of the match for long periods of the second half and sealed victory on 90 minutes.

Brooks broke into the area, only to be brought down by Scott, Convey firing home the resulting penalty to set up a clash with Kidlington in the final on a date to be fixed.

On Saturday, Ardley travel to Abingdon Town.