Premier Division
Didcot Town 0 Highworth Town 2
Saturday, 07 December 2002
Two moments of magic from Highworth striker Justin Miller proved the difference between the two sides in an entertaining encounter at the Loop Meadow Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors could have taken an early lead through Matt Jack but Didcot keeper Keith McLoughlin made a fine save low to his right to deny him. Chris Johnson tried his luck from distance for the home side in the 7th minute but saw his shot fly narrowly over the bar. Midway through the half Miller shot wide from 25 yards but he wasn?t to be denied for long. In the 26th minute he side-footed home after excellent work from Paul Day on the right flank. Ten minutes later the visitors almost doubled their lead. Didcot?s Jamie Heapy made a surging run into the opposing box and when the ball was cleared up-field Miller raced forward only to put his shot wide of the post. On the stroke of half-time Didcot skipper Andy Cooper thumped a header inches past the post following Terry Morrisey?s free kick.
Half Time: 0-1
The home side were much better after the interval although they were grateful that Highworth?s Jamie Mills blasted the ball over the bar from a good position a minute into the second half. Scott Davies had a fierce drive saved by Highworth keeper Tom King in the 55th minute and a minute later Johnson was unlucky to see his goal bound effort deflected wide for a corner. Didcot were applying all the pressure and Ian Concannon almost leveled things after Cooper had headed Darren McNamara?s corner goalwards. With time running out Cooper had another header saved by King and it proved a crucial one as Highworth snatched a second goal on the break. Miller cut inside from the left wing, shook off a couple of challenges and then curled a superb shot inside the far post with McLoughlin stranded. Didcot refused to give up and should have cut the arrears with three minutes remaining. Concannon put his penalty kick wide of the left upright after Andy Woollen had brought him down in the box. Highworth comfortably held on with no further scares and probably deserved the points on the strength of their first half performance.
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