SHIPSTON Excelsior continue to adapt to life in Division Two of the Birdseye Sports Evesham Sunday League following successive promotions and last weekend they convincingly defeated Golden Cross to move into mid table.

Shipston's goals came from Hill (2), Billing (2), Alexander and Pratt with Hanna netting a consolation for the struggling visitors.

A first half strike from Gary Dyke was enough for Broadway United to overcome Badsey Rec and move into second place above Bredon who were surprisingly defeated at Defford and Besford for whom Lawson struck twice.

Mountinneers gained welcome points at the expense of Lower Moor when Morse, Hunter, Rowland, Stanton and Boorman were on target for the winners.

Bretforton Sports Old Boys dropped their first Division Three points of the season when they were held 1-1 at Crowle. Jon Gregory gave the visitors an interval lead before Gwilliam levelled.

Moreton Town won a close encounter with Norgren with Neal and Barnes on target for the winners and May replying.

Wickhamford hit Ashton for six with Martin and Woodman both scoring twice and there were further goals from Houghton and Hodges.

Division Four leaders George were held at the Gate Inn with Rainey and Ballard scoring for the Honeybourne outfit with Smith and Barber.

Phil Roberts was again on target as third-placed Bell United closed the gap on the leaders with victory at Cider Mill. A second half Stanley strike gave Crown Athletic a share of the points against Lenches Lions and Eckington won at Royal Oak.

The first division title chase became even closer as leaders Ambassador crashed to Offenham Rovers.

The home side went two up through Reeves and James before goals from Leeming, Hawtree, Tustin and Sollis gave Rovers a deserved win.

Moreton Wanderers were held at Evesham WMC where Mills put Wanderers in front only for Clelland to make it all-square.

Upton Snodsbury and Bear couldn't manage a goal between them, while Red Horse hit seven against Willersey with goals from Duncan (3), Harris (2), Spencer and Huckvale the scorers.

Mickleton Rangers won at Inkberrow with goals from Tye, Helbert and Reason.

Hampton WMC moved into the last eight of the Bluck Cup thanks to a Redding treble that helped see off Tewkesbury Town.

Oddfellows Arms progressed in the Subsidiary Cup at the expense of Pinvin United thanks to goals from Williams and Carter's late winner.

Results

Evesham Mechanical Services Subsidiary Cup first round: Oddfellows Arms 2, Pinvin Utd 1.

Bluck Cup second round: Tewkesbury Tn 2, Hampton WMC 4 (aet).

Division One: Inkberrow 2, Mickleton Rgrs 3; Upton Snodsbury 0, Bear 0; Ambassador 2, Offenham Rvrs 4; Evesham WMC 1, Moreton Wdrs 1; Red Horse 7, Willersey 2.

Division Two: Shipston Excelsior 6, Golden Cross 1; Defford & Besford Utd 4, Bredon 3; Mountinneers 5, Lower Moor 2; Broadway Utd 1, Badsey Rec 0.

Division Three: Ashton 2, Wickhamford 6; Crowle 1, Bretforton Spts OB 1; Norgren 1, Moreton Town 2.

Division Four: Bengeworth Spts 5, Riverside 7; Crown Athletic 1, Lenches Lions 1; Royal Oak 3, Eckington 6; Gate Inn 2, George 2; Cider Mill 0, Bell Utd 3.

Fixtures for Sunday, January 2

Pershore Hospital Minor Cup third round: Broadway Utd v Pinvin Utd.

Tewkesbury Sports Knockout Cup second round: Moreton Tn v Ambassador. Third round: Mickleton Rgrs v Moreton Wdrs, Bretforton Spts OB v Bredon, Hampton WMC v Red Horse.

Evesham Mechanical Services Subsidiary Cup first round: Mountinneers v Royal Oak, Willersey v Gate Inn.

Division One: Inkberrow v Bear.

Division Two: Badsey Rec v Defford & Besford.

Division Three: Crowle v Wickhamford.

Division Four: Crown Ath v Cider Mill, Eckington v Bell Utd.

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Ambassador 11 6 2 3 27 19 20

Moreton Wdrs 9 6 1 2 25 15 19

Red Horse 9 5 3 1 25 12 18

Upton Snods 9 5 1 3 15 12 16

Mickleton Rgrs 10 5 1 4 18 21 16

Bear FC 7 4 2 1 19 12 14

Evesham WMC 10 3 2 5 24 25 11

Offenham Rvrs 11 3 3 5 23 27 12

Willersey 11 2 0 9 16 40 6

Inkberrow 7 0 1 6 8 17 1

Division Two

P W D L F A Pts

Peopleton 8 7 1 0 31 5 22

Bredon 9 5 1 3 17 14 16

Broadway Utd 9 6 0 3 38 8 18

Oddfellows 7 5 0 2 23 17 15

Lower Moor* 12 6 0 6 19 28 12

Shipston Excel 10 4 1 5 21 20 10

Mountinneers 11 3 1 7 21 46 10

Golden Cross 11 2 1 8 21 41 7

Defford & Bes 8 2 1 5 20 32 7

Badsey Rec 5 2 0 3 5 11 6

Division Three

P W D L F A Pts

Tewkesbury Tn 10 7 2 1 36 15 23

Bret Spts OB 8 7 1 0 40 9 22

Moreton Tn 10 7 1 2 40 15 22

Norgren 11 6 1 4 24 20 19

Hampton WMC 5 4 0 1 23 11 12

Queens 9 3 2 4 12 20 11

Crowle 8 3 2 3 19 17 11

Ashton 10 2 2 6 16 28 8

Wickhamford 7 2 1 4 15 23 7

Broad Utd Res 11 0 3 8 13 45 3

Pebworth 9 0 1 8 7 42 1

Division Four

P W D L F A Pts

George 11 8 1 2 30 18 25

Pinvin Utd 9 7 2 0 26 10 23

Bell Utd 9 6 1 2 46 14 19

Riverside 10 6 0 4 35 33 18

Eckington 8 4 0 4 29 23 12

Cider Mill* 8 4 1 3 16 11 10

Royal Oak 9 3 1 5 28 33 10

Lenches Lions 11 3 1 7 25 39 10

Crown Athletic 8 2 2 4 13 21 8

Gate Inn 11 2 1 8 19 42 7

Benge Spts 10 2 0 8 20 49 6