SHRIVENHAM took an important step towards Hellenic League Premier Division survival with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Newbury on Saturday.

Matt Bown’s penalty miss proved academic as efforts either side of half-time from Nathan Blackford and Dan Drewitt won it for the hosts, with Brad Shaw on the scoresheet for Newbury.

It was Shrivvy’s first league victory since November 16 and boss Dave Turner was in delighted mood afterwards.

“Everybody played to a seven or eight,” he said.

“That's what you have to do to win games in this league. It's our second game in three days and we were still running at 90 minutes.

“I thought we were the better team the whole way through and our patience was rewarded. Newbury changed formation three times but we were comfortable with the way they set up.”

Steve Robertson had the best chance of the early exchanges when he forced a smart save from visiting keeper Kyle Clough from 12 yards.

Shrivvy had a golden opportunity to hit the front when a penalty was awarded for handball, but captain Bown's shot was saved easily by Clough.

Five minutes before the interval, Turner’s men forged ahead when Blackford beat the offside flag to latch on to Richie Miles' flick and finish calmly.

The advantage was doubled in the 50th minute as Newbury allowed Robertson too much time and he rolled the ball across the six-yard box for Drewitt to rifle into the top corner.

Newbury then grabbed one back with their first shot on target. A Clough goal kick made it all the way through to Shaw, who outmuscled Scott Scanlon and fired low past stopper Louie La Touche.

Although the visitors improved as the game went on, they never looked like equalising and Shrivvy secured three precious points.

Elsewhere, Wootton Bassett also gave their survival fight a boost as they made it five unbeaten by destroying Holyport 6-2 at the Corinium.

Jason Milhench’s first-time finish from Jordan Roberts’ cross got the ball rolling early on and Ryan Stanners fired home after being teed up by Levi Cox.

Tyler Sheppard finished off a neat free kick routine before Stanners curled in his second just before the break.

Milhench drilled home the fifth minutes after the resumption before Cox ballooned a spot kick over the bar.

Sam Ockwell nodded in Steve Yeardley’s cross to make it 6-0, but Stanners blew his chance of a hat-trick by firing a penalty straight at the keeper.

Holyport scored twice in the final 17 minutes but both goals proved only consolations.