FAIRFORD Town recorded their first home Hellenic League Premier Division win of the season on Saturday, lifting Jody Bevan’s side to 14th.

Dan Bailey bagged a second-half brace while Robbie James, Charlie Bailey and Jon Thomas were also on target as Fairford recorded a comfortable five-goal victory against sixth-placed Holmer Green.

After losing four and drawing two of their opening six games, the performance understandably delighted Bevan – who now has a two-week break in the league to hone his side’s shape and tactics.

Bevan said: “We were fantastic all round, it was a great performance from start until finish.

“It’s a result that’s been coming. It’s a great result for the club – the players, coaching staff and everyone connected.

“We haven’t had too many good nights as such, but on Saturday we could enjoy ourselves.

“We’ve not got a league game now for a couple of weeks, and we knew a win would put us several places up the league table. We can now relax a little bit from the league, but really we’ve got ourselves out of trouble.

“We had a terrible start to the campaign where we underachieved, and the last few weeks have gone a long way to rectify it.”

Fairford’s improvement on the pitch prompted Bevan to underline the importance of not letting standards slip.

Trips to Virginia Water, Longlevens and Windsor provide Town with three potentially tough consecutive away fixtures in the next month – games which Bevan doesn’t plan on leaving without reward.

He said: “We’ve set our standards now, and I don’t want to be in a situation where we’re looking over our shoulder in the table again.

“We should be looking onwards and aim to do as well as we possibly can.

“We’ve got a couple of cup games now, and there’s some real competition for team places now.

“That gives players a chance to make their case, and I’ve got a genuinely good group of players.

“The atmosphere in the changing room after the game was excellent, and long may that continue.”

Elsewhere in the Hellenic Premier Division, Sam Collier’s Royal Wootton Bassett ran out 3-1 winners at home to Reading City, Brad Pagliaroli twice and Matt Bennett on target.

In Division One West, New College Swindon were downed 7-0 by Thornbury while Malmesbury Victoria made FA Vase progress after beating Roman Glass St George 2-0, Shane Bumphrey and Joe Tranter on target.