LEADERS Highworth narrowly came out on top in this derby battle on Monday. Nine yellow cards, a red card and a penalty were awarded in a real dog fight as Vale manager Steve Wootton considered his side unlucky to come out the losing side.

The title favourites took a two goal lead into the break. Vale battled back in the second half and had a penalty decision turned down before a hand ball from Jon Reeves saw him get his marching orders and Pewsey finally receive a penalty, which Luke Sharpe converted.

Wootton said: "Just before our penalty we should have had another for handball. Everybody in the ground apart from the ref saw it.

"We made a great account of ourselves in the second half, it was pleasing as Highworth have been dishing out hidings to other teams."

The manager thought his side raised their game for the local derby but wants his side to keep that level of performance up.

"It is no good playing well against the big sides and not the others. We need to be beating sides around us, we are sixth from bottom and every game against those sides is a six pointer."

The hosts attacked their guests right from the whistle and Highworth should have taken an eighth minute lead when a cross coming in from the left side found striker Jamie Mills unmarked in front of goal, but he headed over the crossbar from only two yards out.

Vale again escaped from going a goal down when midfielder Sean Terry set up Mills but he was unable to beat the Pewsey keeper Danny Holcroft.

Vale's first chance came in the 25th miniute when Andy Youngsam was put through on the Highworth goal but his chip went over the keeper and over the bar.

It was Highworth who broke the deadlock in the 27th minute when Justin Miller headed past the diving Holcroft from close range.

Miller should have doubled the score on the half hour when the Pewsey defence was opened up but he shot wide.

Highworth continued to put the pressure on their visitors and striker Paul Cooper sent the home side into the break at 2-0 with a great individual effort.

The game turned into a scrap and the referee booked five Highworth players and four of Vale's.

Wootton was forced to make two substitutions as Steve Bush was brought off with a hip injury and Michael Martin hobbled off with a calf strain.

Holcroft denied the hosts a further goal with a superb diving save to stop a ball that was flying in the top corner.

Pewsey lost Tom Ritchie through injury, and brought on Chris Oram for the final minutes.

Vale were denied a penalty when a long ball was controlled by a Highworth hand.

The referee made up for his mistake a few minutes later and awarded a penalty when Reeves handled to deny an away goal. Sharpe gave the visitors a glimmer of hope but Highworth held on to the ball for the final few seconds to keep their slim advantage safe.

Wootton is now worried about the three injuries he received.

"If I have a full squad we can compete with any team as we have proved today. I'm lucky we do not have a game next Saturday and the lads can have a two week break."

Their next game is on January 15 when they take on Screwfix Premier League title contenders Corsham Town in the Wiltshire Cup.