Bicester men 2nd’s promotion challenge was further dented by a 5-1 home defeat to runaway league leaders Eastcote 4th.

In a game switched to Kidlington because of the icy state of the pitch at the Cooper School, Bicester started strongly and their pressure paid off when they went ahead on 12 minutes.

A brilliant run and pass from midfielder Ian Oak set up top scorer Ben Kirk, who curled a delightful shot into the far corner from the left of the D for his 20th goal of the season.

Eastcote responded well, with Bicester keeper Nick Harding making a number of smart saves before two goals in as many minutes put the visitors 2-1 up.

And it got worse for Bicester when Eastcote went 3-1 ahead.

Bicester pushed hard at the start of the second half as they tried to get back into the game, but they suffered a serious setback when key defender Edgar Fricker had to go to hospital after taking a stick to the head.

Eastcote made it 4-0, before Bicester’s misery was completed ten minutes from time hit No 5.