PAUL Braithwaite tipped Wootton Bassett to win Division One West after watching his Fairford side lose 2-1 to their opponents on Saturday.

A double from Mark Barnes which took his tally to 20 goals in all competitions was enough to render Shannon Pocock’s second-half strike meaningless.

Fairford might have had a penalty at 0-0 in the first half when Steve Hall appeared to be brought down, but nothing was given.

Cinder Lane boss Braithwaite said afterwards: “I think Bassett will win the league myself.

“You need togetherness to win the league and I think they have got that, they know each other's games and that's what pulled them through.

“I think maybe a draw was the minimum we deserved and would have been a fairer result. “We dominated the game but the only problem was we failed to score at the right time.

“The penalty was a clear as day from most of the players’ point of view, but unfortunately the referee didn’t give it.

“Overall the boys couldn’t have given any more against a very experienced Bassett team and they were very complimentary afterwards, so fair play to them.”

Bassett manager Dave Turner had nothing but praise for Fairford after the final whistle but felt his side deserved their victory.

“Fairford are a good side and I'm glad we don't have to play them again,” he said.

“They are one of the better sides in the division and I think they will take points off everybody.

“I didn’t know a lot about him (Braithwaite) before this year but I’ve got to be fair to the bloke, his team played some great football.

“The only thing I would say is that for the best part of the game they didn’t really hurt us.

“In seasons gone by it was probably a game we would have drawn, but I think the difference was probably Barnesy.”

Elsewhere in the division, Purton made it 13 goals in two league games with a 7-1 thrashing of Letcombe.

Amongst the goals for the visitors were the in-form Tom Cadden (3), Richie Crocker (2) and Ryan Child, while Alex Bruce netted for Letcombe.

Goals from Danny Langford and Matt Pedder were in vain for Lambourn as they lost 3-2 to Tytherington.

Toby Colbourne. Adamo Missiato and Jason Wood gave the Rocks a 3-2 victory.