PAUL Sanders struck late as Shrivenham took the derby spoils by winning 2-1 at Highworth.

Shrivenham got the opener 10 minutes before half time in the Hellenic Premier clash, when Steve Robertson released Aaron Maximen and he bent his shot round the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.

Fisher told his men to keep it tight during his half-time team talk, advice hs team failed to heed when several minutes in Matty Horsell converted following Sean McKeon’s cross.

However, they made up for it in the closing stages as Sanders smashed into the net after the goalkeeper parried a headed effort.

Shrivvy boss John Fisher said: “It wasn’t a pretty game and the wind didn’t help, but we got what we deserved.

“I think we just about edged it and it was nice to come back to my old club and win. A draw would have been the least we deserved, but to win was great as they have been in form lately.”

Meanwhile, Highworth boss Dave Webb’s mood was understandably downbeat after his side failed to live up to their Challenge Cup exploits at the weekend.

Highworth trounced Oxford 5-0 in the semis but were nowhere near recreating that display.

“It’s a cliche but it was very much a case of after the lord mayor’s show,” admitted Webb.

“Josh Parsons came off after 10 minutes and we didn’t start well anyway - when that happens it’s difficult to change.

“It’s a local derby and whoever you’re playing - no matter how busy your schedule has been - you have to hit them head on.

“But we didn’t do that and they won the game and deserved to win the game, we have to be big enough to accept defeat.”

Webb also warned that his team’s hopes of making the top four were starting to fadefollowing their recent slump in the league.

Highworth have not won in four league matches and Webb said: “I still want to try and get fourth position and if we do that it will be a great effort, but the way we’re going, we’re not going to do that.

“Shrivenham are in the bottom half and we haven’t been good enough to beat them.”

Elsewhere, lowly Fairford were given a 4-0 thumping at title-chasing Shortwood.

Highworth old boy TJ Bohane opened the scoring before Parrott and Slack also netted before the break.

Fairford went down to 10 men later on and an own goal with eight minutes left completed a miserable afternoon for Paul Braithwaite’s side.

  • DAVE Turner admitted Winterbourne deserved to beat his Wootton Bassett side in Division One West yesterday.

But the Rylands Way manager was less happy with the circumstances leading up to the winning side’s late goal, which secured a 2-1 victory.

Winterbourne initially took the lead in the second half courtesy of a superb lob over goalkeeper Pete Doolan.

Turner threw caution to the wind and put three up front, and the gamble paid off when Matt Bown converted a penalty after Darryl Chalmers was fouled.

However, matters began to go downhill when Doolan took out a Winterbourne player when he was clean through on goal, and the stopper was promptly sent off.

Richie Carter took over between the sticks and in the closing stages he caught the ball on the edge of the penalty area and was dragged out of it by a Winterbourne man.

The referee gave a free kick in Winterbourne’s favour, but Turner argued that had the decision gone in his side’s favour, the end result would have been a draw.

“I thought the better team on the day won, I’m just disappointed with the way they were given the winning goal,” he said. “Richie caught the ball right on the end of the 18-yard box and their player grabbed him and pulled him out.

“If it was a free kick our way we would have cleared the ball and seen the game out. Overall, I’ve got no complaints, but I’m disappointed the referee got that wrong.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision and that’s the frustrating thing, but to be fair he was poor all afternoon.”

However, Turner played tribute to his side following their busy recent schedule, with yesterday’s game being their last of the season.

“We looked like we’ve play four games in 10 days and they were stronger than us. They deserved it on chances created,” he said.

“But my players were magnificent, to go toe to toe with a decent team as they did was excellent and they acquitted themselves really well.”

Elsewhere in the division there were defeats for both Purton and Cricklade, who both lost 1-0 at Ciren Dev and Clanfield respectively.

New College endured a tough day on the road as they were sunk 4-0 at New College.