SHRIVENHAM boss Sam Collier thinks in his two-goal debutant Matt Bennett he could have one of the league’s top strikers.

Collier’s men were victorious in their opening game of the season at Oxford City Nomads with Bennett’s brace giving Shrivvy a decisive lead as the game ended 2-1.

Bennett is a player that Collier had tried to bring in last season but due to other commitments the former Highworth man was unavailable.

Shrivvy’s player-manager stated last week in the Advertiser that he is aiming for survival in the Hellenic Premier Division for the club this year but was delighted with an opening win.

“It was a great debut from Matt,” Collier told the Advertiser, “We tried to get him last year but he had problems with other commitments but if we can get him playing week in and week out then I have no doubt he could been one of the best strikers in the league.

“It’s very pleasing to go there and get a victory. It was a hugely tough game, they have links with (Oxford) City and you’re never sure if they’ll be getting players in from them, it was certainly a tough place to go first up.

“We had a couple of early chances, then Matt Bennett on his debut scored a good team goal to go one nil up. We controlled the first half apart from when they had a good spell for 10 minutes that we weathered.

“We came out all guns blazing the second half and Matt Bennett got the second. They got their goal and kept applying pressure and in the last 10 minutes we were holding on, in all fairness they probably deserved a point.”

Bennett was not the only player to impress on his bow for the club, Swindon Town second year scholar Aaron Moody in goal was awarded the man of the match honours for a series of top saves to keep Nomads at bay.

Collier took great pleasure in seeing his side come together as a unit for the first time this season, more so considering the absence of Adam Corcoran, the standout player at Barrington Park in pre-season.

“The performance was most pleasing for me, the pre-season games were varying in quality but the lads performances (on Saturday) were outstanding.

“If we play like that every week it’s going to take decent sides to beat us. We had the right attitude and the lads enjoyed it and that’s the most important thing at the end of the day.”