SHRIVENHAM boss Michael McNally was chuffed to see his team pull up their socks and battle to victory at near neighbours Clanfield on Saturday.

Shrivvy, who like Clanfield, are based across the Oxfordshire border but made up primarily of Swindon-based players, made the short trip to Radcot Road and claimed a narrow 1-0 win courtesy of Kias Bonner-Shea’s first-half penalty.

Joe Grant set up Bonner-Shea, who was felled in the area before dusting himself down to fire home the match-winner from 12 yards, but the visitors were forced to weather an almighty Clanfield onslaught in the latter stages.

However, they eventually came through that test unscathed and Barrington Park boss McNally praised his troops for giving everything to claim the derby spoils.

“In the first half, I thought that we dominated the play and Joe Grant has gone on a great 45-yard run and set up, Kias, who got brought down – he’s then scored a fantastic penalty,” said McNally.

“But in the second half, the heavens opened and I thought Clanfield dealt with the conditions a lot better than we did.

“For the last 15-20 minutes, we struggled to get out of our own 18-yard box. We all had to dig in and get over the line.

“At the end of the game, the lads could hardly walk. They’d all given absolutely everything.

“I said to them that had that been at the start of the season, we’d probably have lost that game 2-1 or 3-1, but we’ve also had a few games where we’ve battered teams and lost 1-0, so you need to have that luck in football.

“It was a tough game but a good result for us and I’m really happy with what the players showed.”

The likes of Jamie Prictor, Chris Rivers and Grant look set to miss Easter Monday’s trip to Shortwood United Reserves (3pm).

McNally added: “There’s a few guys with knocks, so they’ll have a bit of a rest ahead of the New College game (on Wednesday).

“There’s a good pitch at Shortwood, which will suit us a bit better, so we’re looking forward to that one.”

Elsewhere in Hellenic League Division One West, Shannon Pocock was on target for Purton as they drew 1-1 with Shortwood at the Red House whilst New College were beaten 2-1 at Hook Norton.

Fairford Town progressed through the third round of the Supplementary Challenge Cup with a 3-1 victory over Premier Division Highmoor-Ibis.

Mitch Parker put the visitors ahead but James Lawrence-Forbes levelled matters before Luke Cordery put Fairford into the lead and Lawrence-Forbes grabbed his second of the game to seal a fine victory for Gareth Davies’ men.