AN inspired substitution from manager Steve Wootton helped Pewsey record their first Hellenic Premier Division points in more than two months on Saturday 15 March.

With his side a goal down, the Pewsey boss replaced Mark Bennett with Dave Marfleet ten minutes after the break and saw the substitute score twice in as many minutes to turn the game on its head.

Ross Anderson and Tom Ritchie were also on the mark, while Marfleet saw a late penalty saved as the home side climbed out of the bottom three. The result also dented the visitors' chances of survival. Wootton said: "If we had lost, I think the writing would have been on the wall.

"Dave Marfleet scored with his first two touches and for 20 minutes after that they couldn't live with us and we were unfortunate not to get two more penalties."

Wantage took the lead on 17 minutes when Alan Burton crossed for the unmarked Chris Whitworth to score at the back post.

Pewsey's fightback began when Marfleet was introduced. He lobbed Paul Belcher within 60 seconds of coming on and gave Pewsey the lead a minute later after good work from Doug Imrie and Anderson.

Marfleet supplied the pass for Anderson to put the hosts further ahead, before Imrie and Barry Flippance gave young midfielder Ritchie the chance to make it four.

Imrie was then brought down by Stuart Morrison in the box, but Belcher produced a fine save to deny Marfleet his hat-trick.

Pewsey hope to welcome striker Craig Wall back when they travel to seventh-placed Brackley on Saturday. Said Wootton: "If we can get two more wins, then I think we'll be all right. Brackley and Carterton are our next two games and are the toughest ones we have left."