DEVIZES Town joint-boss Darran Walters was happy to see his side escape from Oldland Abbotonians with a point and concedes that the Nursteed Road men rode their luck in South Gloucestershire.

Striker Blaine Fitzgerald struck to put the visitors in front last weekend but Oldland hit back to get back on level terms before piling the pressure on Walters and Justin Webster’s side.

Against the run of play, Devizes almost nicked all three points as debutant Joe Merritt struck the crossbar at the death but joint-chief Walters was content to see his team notch up a hard-earned draw.

“We went there without a few players due to injures, suspensions and what have you – I had three lads starting that were all playing their first Western League game,” he said.

“Blaine Fitzgerald did score for us to put us in front but to be honest, we did ride our luck quite a lot.

“We hit the crossbar in the last minute and could have pulled off a smash and grab but I was still happy with a point.”

Skipper Kris Beasley returns to Walters and Webster’s Devizes squad for this weekend’s trip to Chard Town along with Jamie McLaughlin, Rory Collins and Matty Lever.

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