ROYAL Wootton Bassett Town slipped to a fourth straight defeat in the Hellenic League Premier Division after they were hit for six away at title-chasing Thatcham on Saturday.

Rich Hunter’s side registered no points from their final three games of 2017 and the first game of the new year failed to spark a turnaround in fortunes as they were thumped 6-0 at Waterside Park.

Second-placed Thatcham, who closed within six points of Highworth Town at the top after the league leaders had a fixture-less weekend, only held a slender 1-0 advantage at half-time through Liam Ferdinand’s opener.

However, the wheels fell off for Bassett after the break as Ferdinand struck three more times to complete an impressive four-goal haul, while efforts from Shane Cooper-Clark and Harrison Bailey added further embarrassment for the visitors.

Fairford Town are in the midst of a winless run of their own and it was stretched to a sixth game over the weekend following a 3-1 defeat at home to Oxford City Nomads.

Jody Bevan’s side got to the break with the stalemate still intact but the task facing the home side in the second period would be a stiff one after Steve Hall was sent off for a second bookable offence just before half-time.

That allowed Nomads to strike twice before the midway point of the second half and although Lee Smith gave Fairford hope from the penalty spot, a third goal for the visitors from Kyreece Martei sealed Town’s fate.

There was just a third win in Division One West of the season for second-from-bottom New College as a 2-1 success at Shortwood United Reserves immediately above them saw the students climb to within one point of their hosts, Kane Howcutt and Biag Mazzotta on target.

Finally, Shrivenham’s ambitions in the Challenge Cup came to an end in the third round following a heavy 6-1 defeat at home to Premier Division side Binfield.