THERE is little doubt Pewsey will be relegated to the Hellenic First Division but confident manager Steve Wootton boldly declared this team will bounce back.

The defeat on Saturday leaves Vale 14 points away from safety with just 15 more points up for grabs.

The realistic manager, who is stepping down in the summer, was disappointed to announce that he and his players have accepted the fact they will get relegated.

He said: "We need to win every match and hope Wootton Bassett, Pegasus and Chipping Norton lose all of their remaining five games.

"The season is over but if we'd just had a bit of luck in the last few games it could have been different.

"On Saturday and against Highworth we played extremely well and if they can play like that next season I would put my money on them bouncing back and coming straight back up."

Wootton has served as Vale manager for almost four seasons and said his players made him feel proud over the past few weeks.

"The players were deep in trouble with the odds stacked against them and they did not give up.

"We have five games left that probably do not mean much but they will never throw in the towel. It is not in their character."

He believes that despite the depressing run of results his players will be ready to face North Leigh away on Saturday.

Pewsey held high flyers Abingdon for 50 minutes until they opened up the Vale defence allowing Anacelt Odhamibo to run through and power in.

Despite attacking their guests in search of an equaliser, Abingdon killed the game off when a bad bounce confused the defence and Ryan Cirton ran clear to score.