CHRIS JONES is not giving up the fight for survival yet even after watching his Wootton Bassett side suffer a shambolic 5-0 mauling at the hands of Slimbridge.

The men from Rylands Way stay rooted in the bottom two in the Hellenic Premier 10 points from safety after an emphatic home defeat to the new league leaders.

Jones admitted the relegation battle was beginning to take its toll but the widening bridge could still be gapped.

"It was very disappointing but there is still a lot of football to be played," he said.

"The games are coming thick and fast now and our young lads are looking a bit tired.

"When you looked at the fixtures at the start of the season it was always going to be difficult to get anything from this game.

"So it's not the result that bothers me it's the performance.

"It just wasn't acceptable and the lads have to take a good look at themselves."

Beleaguered Bassett fell behind after just four minutes when Tom Radcliffe's shot deflected beyond Ian Gill after the home defence failed to clear from a corner.

Slimbridge piled on the pressure and the inevitable second goal arrived on 37 minutes as Rob Hopkins headed into his own net.

Four minutes later, a calamitous error from Gill brought the third. The Bassett keeper came out looking to claim a long punt but jumped over the ball and gifting Radcliffe his second of the day.

Goal number four arrived 10 minutes into the second period with Matt Green firing a shot in off the legs of Leigh Jones.

Julian Freeman added a penalty on the hour-mark to leave the hosts in the mire.

Things look brighter at the other end of the table for neighbours Highworth following a 3-1 win at Henley. That leaves John Fisher's squad four points behind Slimbridge with three games in hand.

Paul Cooper's first-half double and Phil Corcoran's strike after the break kept Highworth's title charge on track.

Fairford remain eighth after a goalless draw at home to Ardley.

Shrivenham kept pace with the leaders in Division One West.

Alan Dyton's charges failed to find their best for but still saw off Middle Barton 4-0.

An Alex Green header separated the sides at the break. Green completed his hat-trick with two second-half solo efforts, while Mark Stevens netted from the spot.

Said Dyton: "Our football was not as good as it should have been.

"Although this was a scruffy win the points now are all that is important."

After breaking their losing streak at Adderbury last week, Malmesbury fell back into bad habits with a 2-1 defeat to Clanfield.

Andy Wicks played in Andy Mitchell to fire the Vics in front after 20 minutes.

But two goals from Court, the second a late penalty gave the visitors the win and Jif Wilkins was sent off late on for two bookable offences. Elsewhere, Purton were beaten 3-1 at Harrow Hill but Cirencester United held title contenders Trowbridge to a 1-1 draw at the Corinium Stadium.

Hellenic Premier Didcot moved a step closer to the FA Vase final with a 1-0 home win over Jarrow Roofing in their semi-final, first leg.

AFC Sudbury beat Bedlington Terriers 2-1 in the other semi, between two previous winners of the competition.