STEVE Wootton has decided to stay on as Pewsey manager after showdown talks with his players and his chairman.

Wootton had considered leaving the club after last week's crushing 7-0 defeat to the hands of bottom placed Shortwood United.

He said: "The Shortwood defeat was hard to take as the players seemed to give up. I thought that it might be time for someone else to have a go as manager.

"I spoke to the chairman and he assured me that he wants me to stay at the club. I held a meeting with the players and had a good response. They want me to stay and say that they are behind me. After those meetings I decided that I am happy to carry on as pewsey manager."

Despite a heavy defeat by Didcot on Friday Wootton was happier with the players' attitudes for this game. He said: "We were beaten by the better side. The players they were more composed and did not give up. Didcot are a good side, I knew that they would be difficult to beat."

Pewsey battled in the first half and did not concede until the half-hour mark. Keeper Lee Wilson fumbled Stuart Beavon's cross, it fell to striker Ian Concannon, who tapped in from two yards.

The home side went two up with their next attack. Defender Carl Marsh headed into his own net from midfielder Paul Hannigan's cross as he was put under pressure from Beavon.

The score became 3-0 on 50 minutes when Concannon rattled his shot against the crossbar. The rebound fell to Matty Jack, he squared the ball back to Concannon to slot home from six yards.

Jack bagged Didcot's fourth on 65 minutes when substitute Laurence Hoey chipped the ball to Jack to volley in from 15 yards.

Substitute Bradley Ward completed the scoring on 75 minutes with his first touch of the game when his long range shot was deflected past Wilson.

Pewsey did manage to test the home keeper in the closing moments as midfielder Paul Fisher's firm drive was tipped over the crossbar by shot stopper Chris Webb. From the resultant corner, Chris Oram saw his header cleared off the line.

Wootton thinks that he can revive Pewsey's season. He said: "The only way is up. We have a few games coming up that I feel we can get points from but we have to work hard as a team. I feel the team spirit is back and we are a close unit again.

"I think that my squad needs reinforcing. We are going to watch a few players next week and will be putting in seven day requests soon."

Pewsey's next game is at home on Saturday when they face 11th-placed Fairford Town.

l HIGHWORTH'S war of attrition with Carterton was settled by a first-half own goal at the Elms.

The home side won when the decisive goal arrived on the half-hour mark as Carl Dodds put through his own net.

Shrivenham sneaked into title contention when Alan Dyton's men secured a vital 2-0 win at Tytherington Rocks to move level on points with the previously unbeaten leaders of Division One West.

Michael Silvanus laid on the first for Steve Avenall and Avenall pounced again with 15 minutes left.