CORSHAM claimed the narrowest of victories with a one run win over Bristol in the West of England Premier Division One.

Corsham opened brightly after the early fall of Oliver Smith to reach 66-2. But when Stephen Silk (34) was bowled wickets fell for relatively few runs until Steven Copland (33) and captain Neil Shardlow (14) put on a useful partnership of 40.

The last three wickets fell for only 17 runs as Nic Doherty (5-43) tore through Corsham's innings leaving Bristol needing 168 runs to grab the win.

A bright start by Kevin Blackburn (22) and James Williams (33) seemed to take the game away from Corsham and Graeme Brown's 31 in the middle of the innings seemed to only delay the inevitable.

But tight bowling from both Jason Searle (4-42) and James Ashford-Brown (4-31) dismissed the last few wickets cheaply to leave Bristol on 166 all out.

Corsham captain Shardlow said it was a tough game: "It swung one way then the other then another and it kept going each way like a pendulum.

"It is hard because you are concentrating on your own game and you are trying to do what is best for the team as well.

"There's a lot going through your mind and it was good to get the help from Steve Silk and Jason Searle.

"Eventually we managed to show good character and came through."

Shardlow said it was a good to record a victory against a good side: "It's a great result for us. I know they have two or three good batsmen who we play Wiltshire cricket with.

"I know Jimmy Williams as well and he hit two eighties against us last year. I thought 167 was going to be about 20 runs too short and although we did not get off to a great start we took the important wickets within three or four overs."

Sardlow praised Peter Dennet, James Ashford-Brown and Jason Searle for their performances.

"Peter opened the batting and got a 40 and from his own admission he was struggling but he top scored for the game.

"I was also very pleased with James Ashford-Brown because when he came back for his second spell when we were hoping for a breakthrough he provided it.

"I think he even bowled two overs of ten Yorkers which were unplayable. And Jason Searle provided an all-round performance. He bowled well and continued to when he had to swap ends."

Corsham travel to Keynsham next weekend for one of the toughest matches of the season.

"I have looked at the table and they had a heavy victory on Saturday. I know it's early but they are top of the league at the moment and have a strong line-up," said Shardlow.