Shortwood United’s goalkeeper Tom King proved to be a brick wall for Gareth Davies’ Fairford side as they fell to a 3-1 away defeat.

With Shortwood’s first team not having a game on Saturday a handful of their players stepped down, including King, to take on Fairford and that proved to be the difference between the two sides.

With Fairford temporarily down to ten men with a player receiving treatment for a dislocated finger, Shortwood opened their account with Ryan Meredith heading home in the 12th minute.

Right at the end of the half Fairford should’ve equalised as Rudd was put through, King had other ideas and pulled off a superb save to maintain Shortwood’s lead.

It was the hosts who extended their lead in the second half when Niall Morgan scored and they soon extended their lead when Nick Humphries rounding the keeper to score.

Fairford did pull a goal back through when Dan Thompson struck and it was the visitors who finished the game the strongest but they could not find a way past the impressive King.

“I knew the odds would be stacked against us because I knew that their first team didn’t have a game,” said Davies, who had to join in the action at half-time.

“To be fair I think they have chucked three or four in, I think the three scorers were all first team lads and in the end that little bit of extra quality showed.

“Tom Kings played in goal and he is a very good goalkeeper and he pulled off three worldy saves to keep them ahead.

“I would rather go a little bit gung-ho and try and get back into the game rather than just roll over.

“We did create some decent chances, and if we weren’t creating the chances then I would be worried but Tom King had a very good game for them.

“I think if you play against good players you can raise your game but it was just that little bit of quality in the end that told.”