HAVING won only one of their opening seven games of the season last year, a good start was imperative for Gareth Davies’ Fairford Town.

The hosts were soon two goals to the good against league new-boys Shrivenham before the half-hour mark, and despite the 10 men of Shrivvy pulling a goal back, Town were able to hold on for the three points, to the delight of Davies.

“We did say that it was massively important that we got off to a good start,” said Davies.

“After last year’s disaster, we wanted to put things right as quickly as possible.

“I thought overall, we were worthy winners.

“They gave it a decent go in the second half with 10 men and they put us under the cosh a little bit in the second half.

“Last year, with 20 minutes to go we would have folded, but this year ,our game management and seeing the game out has been worked on and I thought we were superb at it.”

Davies handed debuts to five of his summer recruits and it didn’t take long for them to click.

Midfielder Tom Ballard opened the scoring when the ball sat up nicely for him on the edge and his left-footed effort found the top corner.

Shrivenham were then reduced to 10 men after 30 minutes when 19-year-old Harry Bidwell brought down new signing Adam Webb when through on goal.

Fairford took just three minutes to make the most of the man advantage when Lee Smith drilled a ball across the box that was turned home by a home defender.

Debutant Danny Hale then struck the crossbar from 25-yards out before Shrivenham were able to get a goal back with 25 minutes remaining through Jack Pedder, but it was not enough to force the draw.

“It is coming and going at our place, but overall, all the new lads were superb and the lads that we kept from last year. Overall, it was a decent team performance,” added Davies.

Meanwhile, Shrivvy boss Michael McNally said there were plenty of positives to take from the defeat.

“To be honest, we didn’t turn up first half for some reason,” said McNally, whose side were relegated last year.

“Our preparation was good, but we didn’t turn up and we were 2-0 down.

“Before they scored, we had a good chance to take the lead ourselves when Ciaran Fennell hit the post.

“We have got quite a few young lads there, but everything we said in the changing room before they went out; they didn’t take on board.

“We re-grouped second half and had a right go at them.

“It was a credit to the lads, because it was a hot day and we were the better side for 45 minutes.

“They rolled their sleeves up.

“I know if that had been last year, they would have probably gone out there and got beat four or five-nil.

“They broke a couple of times, as you would expect when we are pushing for the equaliser, and I think if we had got the second goal, we would have probably gone on to win the game."