MANAGER Paul Davis had no complaints after seeing Ardley United’s winning run brought to an abrupt end, writes Dale James.

Ardley, who had won their previous six Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division games, crashed 4-0 at home to Highworth – all the goals coming in the first 32 minutes.

To complete Ardley’s dismal day, they had Ryan Knight sent off before half-time.

Davis said: “I felt we were overawed by our opposition for the first 20 minutes.

“We conceded some really poor goals from mistakes that we haven’t been making of late.

“But we deserved to lose the game to the better side.”

Highworth took the lead in the fifth minute when a Chris Taylor corner from the right sailed straight in.

They doubled their lead on 18 minutes through Aysa Corrick, who took advantage of a defensive slip before firing home

Two minutes later the visitors were awarded a penalty when Ash Edenborough was fouled inside the area.

The striker picked himself up to smash home from the spot and effectively kill off the game.

After Matt Cruse had tested Highworth keeper Kent Kauppinen, the visitors made it 4-0 when Edenborough surged forward and squared to Corrick, who netted via the near post.

Ardley’s afternoon of frustration was compounded four minutes later when Knight was harshly shown a straight red card after tussling with Corrick.

The hosts regained some self-respect in the second half, when their ten men kept a clean sheet.

They also created some chances.

Leam Howards was unlucky not to pull a goal back after the restart, when he bent the ball around the keeper but was denied by a goalline clearance.

At the other end Corrick almost completed his hat-trick but fired inches wide of Nick Bennion’s left post.

Ardley came closest whenCruse crossed for Nathaniel Lewars, whose shot rebounded off the bar, bounced on the line and away to safety.

Davis gained some consolation for his side’s second-half display.

He said: “We didn’t concede a goal with ten men on the pitch for an hour, and managed to create some chances in that time, so we’ll take those positives into this Saturday’s trip to Longlevens.”