HELLENIC LEAGUE: BATTLING Pewsey produced one of their best performances of the season to earn a priceless point in their fight for Hellenic Premier Division survival

Pewsey remain fourth from bottom, but came close to pulling off the surprise result of the day against a side beaten only once in the league this season.

Home manager Steve Wootton was proud of his side and singled out Micky Goodwin for special praise.

He said: "It was a blinding result. We should really have won and had the best chances of the game.

"Craig Wall and Mark Bennett both had chances in the first three minutes but we just couldn't convert them.

"It was the same at Brackley the week before, where we were the better side for 80 minutes but lost 3-0.

"On Saturday, I played Micky Goodwin at sweeper and he was absolutely outstanding. It was the best I've ever seen him play.

"Mike Martin and Kia Dorland ran their socks off out wide and Neil Bartlett and Tom Richie were outstanding in midfield. I couldn't fault anyone really. They all played well."

Craig Wall gave a lively display on his return to the Pewsey attack and was denied in the 11th minute by a fine save from goalkeeper Nick Hertiage.

Another great run by Wall almost set up a goal on 29 minutes, the ball flashing across the face of the goalmouth with no Pewsey player able to apply the final touch.

Andy Holder sent a snap shot well over Dave Hunt's crossbar for the second placed visitors as the two sides remained locked at the interval.

Goodwin and former Devizes man Darren Walters both impressed at the back for the home team, who again came close to snatching the lead when new signing Neil Bartlett's powerful shot was blocked by Heritage.

Defender Chris Oram then fired over, while former Southampton midfielder Bartlett saw a shot deflected behind for a corner on 65 minutes.

Pewsey pushed for the winner but were almost caught out at the back late on, goalkeeper Hunt blocking a Kevin Lewis shot with his feet.

Manager Wootton was grateful to Hunt for his late heroics and felt a Carterton victory would have been a grave injustice.

He said: "Dave Hunt made a superb save with two minutes to go and they had a golden chance just after that, but sometimes you need that bit of luck. If we'd have lost the game it just wouldn't have been fair."

Pewsey face perhaps their biggest game of the season on Saturday when they entertain third from bottom Pegasus Juniors at the Recreation Ground in a relegation six-pointer.

Only three sides are likely to be relegated from the Premier Division this season, and Pegasus are currently two points behind Pewsey with four games in hand.

Wootton will be asking for more of the same from his side and knows victory is crucial with time running out.

He said: "It is a bigger game than the one against Wantage a couple of weeks ago.

"We've got four games to go and we can win all of them.

"If we play like we did on Saturday then we are bound to get at least four points because we won't lose any of them.

"If we stay up then we will have achieved part A of our plan. The Premier Division is a much better standard than Division One. People like playing on nice pitches and grounds and I'll have more chance of enticing players to the club."

Wootton is faced with a selection headache ahead of Saturday's crunch match. Top scorer Barry Flippance could return from a knee injury, while regulars Ross Anderson, Doug Imrie and Tony Dyer are all back in contention for a starting spot.

Said Wootton: "At the moment it looks like it will be the first time I've had to drop someone, which is a nice problem to have."