TEENAGERS Caine Bradbury, Dan Warre and Ellis Parker won over Royal Wootton Bassett chief Sam Collier on Saturday as Longlevens were beaten 2-1 at the Gerrard Buxton Sports Ground.

Warre, 16, scored the first of Bassett’s two goals in their latest Hellenic League Premier Division tie while goalkeeper Parker, also 16, overcame a costly error that gifted Longlevens their only marker of the game to see Bassett jump up to 12th in the table.

The hosts’ winning goal came in the final minute as impact substitute Bradley Pagliaroli – returning from suspension – snatched Bassett’s all important second to rescue three points.

Collier stated after full time that he was pleased by his squad’s togetherness during the game’s concluding minutes, something which he now admits to questioning earlier this campaign.

He said: “It was a scrappy game, the wind didn’t help as our ground is quite open.

“We were against the wind in the first half, but still defended well and didn’t let it cause us any problems.

“We knew we’d be able to play some football in the second half, and Longlevans were quite direct – their balls often went through to our ‘keeper.

“We dominated the first 25 minutes and scored. A goalkeeping error cost us a goal, though Ellis Parker was outstanding afterwards.

“Bradley Pagliaroli was on the bench, and a bit of magic from him in the last minute got us the winner. I was very pleased, at 1-1 I wasn’t sure how we’d react given we fielded a very young team.

“But everyone reacted brilliantly, we deserved the win.”

Pagliaroli’s impact from the bench certainly helped Collier out in the second half.

The Bassett boss generally hasn’t had the luxury of looking towards his bench for late inspiration this term, but that might be about to change given the eye-catching performances of his squad’s younger players.

He added: “We haven’t had that strength on the bench for a number of weeks – we’ve got a very small squad.

“The problem we have is that we haven’t had the chance to change games with substitutes. On Saturday, we did that.

“I said to Dan (Warre) and Caine (Bradbury) – aged 16 and 17 – that they are keeping out my best player in Brad.

“Credit to them for doing that. I was delighted for the squad because they showed great togetherness, which is something we’ve questioned.”

Elsewhere in Hellenic League, Fairford Town defeated struggling Tuffley Rovers 4-2 at home. Town remain second in the table – nine points behind runaway leaders Westfields.

Shrivenham were without a game and play next on Saturday at Burnham.