NAT Jarvis bagged a hat-trick as Hungerford returned to winning ways with a 5-1 victory at Bedworth on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

Their first victory in nine games leaves them seventh in the Southern League Premier Division.

The Crusaders were missing three players due to suspension and suffered another blow when Stefan Brownbroke down in the warm-up.

There was a debut for Garyn Preen, their recent signing from Cinderford, and it was his centre that led to Jarvis opening the scoring after 27 minutes.

Jarvis netted again on 38 minutes, this time from a Rhys Tyler cross, and within a minute Preen had made it 3-0.

The fourth goal came from Matt Collins two minutes into the second half and Jarvis completed his hat-trick after 58 minutes from a chance set up by Preen.

Lowly Bedworth pulled a goal back through a Gordon Archer corner and it needed a superb save by Shane Gore to deny the hosts a second goal.

Hungerford travel to Cambridge City this Saturday (3pm) and host Chesham United on Monday (7.45pm).

Ian Davies grabbed a late winner as Thatcham Town defeated fellow high-fliers Oxford City Nomads 3-2 in the Hellenic League Premier Division on Saturday.

The striker had earlier opened the scoring after 16 minutes with Mark Thompson making it 2-0 on the half-hour mark.

Thatcham missed two good chances early in the second half before a triple substitution inspired the visitors to hit back.

Connor Harris (59 mins) and Amer Awadh (74) brought Nomads back on level terms and at this stage of the game it looked as though there would only be one winner – and that would be the visitors.

However, the prolific Davies sealed Town’s ninth win from 11 league games four minutes from time.

Thatcham remain third in the table on 28 points, just one point behind the two sides above them, Flackwell Heath and Ascot, but having played fewer games.

Town host bottom-of-the-table Wokingham & Emmbrook at Waterside Park, but face a tougher test on Monday evening (7.45pm kick-off) when they take on seventh-placed Highmoor Ibis at Palmer Park in Reading.

Newbury, having been hammered 10-1 by Thames Valley League leaders Reading YMCA the previous week, bounced back to form to beat Wallingford Town 3-0 in the Berks and Bucks Intermediate Cup.

They return to league action at Hurst on Saturday (2pm).

Padworth-based defending champions Reading YMCA also progressed with a comfortable 5-0 win at Taplow United.

The Thames Valley League table-toppers visit mid-table Berks County on Saturday (2pm).