A DEPLETED Purton side claimed the derby honours at home to New College in Hellenic League Division One West.

Yet despite the victory over the Webbs Wood Stadium side, Purton’s assistant manager Steve Hall was less than happy that they only had 12 players, including himself.

“It is not the first time this has happened, and Chris (Pethick, manager) and myself have been biting our tongues over the issue.

“But it is something that has to be addressed for next season because this shouldn’t be happening to a club like Purton - we had aspirations of finishing in the top three.”

Hall had to come on after 20 minutes to replace his son Marcus after he jarred his knee in a challenge and while another member of the Purton squad arrived later, the Red House side’s number two played until the hour mark.

Blaine Fitzgerald netted both of Purton’s goals against the academy side and Hall senior was impressed with their attitude.

“They are a credit to the College with what they are doing - their attitude was spot on,” Hall said.

“Saying that though we deserved the win, they had us under the cosh for a little while before we scored our goals.

“The game had an end of season feel to it. It was their last match and we’ve only got one more to play.”

Hall felt that the stop-start nature of recent weeks for Purton has played a part in the depletion of numbers.

“It doesn’t help does it,” Hall added. “You get a few fitness issues when you are not playing every week and there are a few attitude issues as well.

“We always seem to do better when we are down to the bare bones of 12 players, we did it against Tuffley (Rovers) a few weeks ago.

“It has been the times when we have had a full compliment of players of 15/16 when we have struggled.”