SHRIVENHAM were pegged back late by high-flying Wantage Town to deny Sam Collier his first win as Barrington Park boss.

Dave Coleman had scored a cracker to give Shrivvy the lead late in the first half - the wideman steering the ball into the top corner from fifteen yards to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Throughout the opening period Wantage never looked like scoring as Collier’s side controlled the ball and played the better football of the two sides.

It was the same story in the second half until the visitors started throwing the ball long into the box. Wantage eventually stuck their big centre-half upfront as they got deperate for a point to keep pace with league leaders Ardley.

Shrivvy were still ahead with seven minutes remaining when Wantage heaved in another set-piece but this time the home side couldn’t clear and the ball was bundled home.

Reflecting after the game Collier felt his side deserved better and was proud of his team’s performance.

“If someone had said to me I could have a draw against them beforehand I would have taken it but after that performance we’re a bit disappointed which is a good sign,” said Collier.

“If you were watching you wouldn’t know who was the top side and who was down the bottom.”

Shrivvy boss Collier felt his team had the measure of the away side’s direct approach, praising his side for continuing to believe in themselves after their recent string of unfortunate results.

“We’ve been playing like that the last couple of weeks but haven’t had the luck, today we made our own luck and kept on going.“ Collier told the Advertiser on Friday how the best performance his side had put in was against Wantage away. That game was also the last time Shrivvy scored until Saturday so for Collier it was a confidence boost to see his team put one in.

“It was nice to get that goal, we enjoyed it but we didn’t carried away as we knew we still had a lot of work to do at that point.

“It builds confidence, we can take this (result) forward now, against a side that side expected to win the league, they came down here and left happy with a point.

“It’s nice to be able to enjoy our Saturday evening.”

Shrivvy gave a debut to French striker Patrick Niame who joined on loan from Chippenham late on Friday night and also saw Josh Fowler get a run out for the first since December following his suspension.

Shrivvy remain 16th in the Hellenic Premier but moved a point ahead of the two teams below them, Newbury and Holyport, and are four points clear of the relegation places.

Elsewhere Highworth’s game with Reading Town was called off due to an electrical failure at Scours Lane.

Highworth’s next game is Kidlington on Tuesday at The Elms.