FAIRFORD Town manager Jody Bevan praised his side’s character and determination after they reversed a 3-0 deficit to win 5-4 at Ardley United on Saturday, lifting them off the foot of the Hellenic Premier Division table.

Greg Hackett’s early brace coupled with Tobias London’s strike on 21 minutes granted the hosts a comfortable three-goal advantage with barely half an hour played.

Connor Thompson then struck for Fairford before Bevan’s half-time team talk inspired Mason Thompson to a second-half hat-trick before Jordan Moore levelled the game at four apiece.

Fairford’s John Thomas wasn’t happy with a point, though, as his goal fired Bevan’s troops into a deserved – if unlikely – lead.

Bevan said: “It was an absolutely crazy match, you never knew which way it was going to go.

“We were 3-0 down after half an hour, so it’s one hell of a result for ourselves.

“We were wobbling, they looked like they could score at any moment – and they had chances to score more goals.

“At that period, we stopped playing and started doing silly things. We got a goal back just before half-time and that was crucial, it allowed me to get into the lads and get some belief back in the squad.

“We created plenty of chance ourselves in the first half, but we just weren’t taking them.

“We got a goal early in the second half, then it became crazy.”

The performance underlined Bevan’s belief in his squad, admitting that he doesn’t rate his side worthy of being in the bottom positions in the league table.

While conceding four goals will naturally raise questions in the defence, Bevan insists his side must make the most of winning a nine-goal thriller.

“All round it was a great team performance in the second half,” said Bevan.

“I never thought we were a table worthy of being bottom of the table. We’ve got quality all round and we saw that on Saturday.

“It’s not particularly good for my heart being goals behind early doors.

“But full credit to the lads today, they put a real shift in and deserve the win. They showed real character.

“When we were losing games, confidence does drop. But that’s changed now.”

Elsewhere in the Hellenic Premier Division, Shrivenham’s leagues woes continued as they lost 3-2 at Holmer Green, Sean McKeown and Josh Morse netting for Gareth Davies' side.

Royal Wootton Bassett were also on the wrong end of a five-goal contest – losing 3-2 at Wantage Town as Kieran Diaz-Benitez and TJ Bohane on target.

In Division One West, Malmesbury Victoria lost 3-1 at home to Thornbury, with Shane Bumphrey on target for the hosts, while New College Swindon were thrashed 10-0 at home against Pewsey Vale.