HEREFORD Pegasus showed their mettle and landed a blow on title rivals Malmesbury Victoria with a 3-1 victory.

After chances at both ends in the first half Peggy took a 59th minute lead when a free-kick was flicked on for Rory Worthing to put his side ahead.

Peggy looked to have sealed the win after 71 minutes with Paul Jones cutting in from the wing before firing home.

However, a minute later the table-topping visitors responded after goalkeeper Brandon Powell pulled off a double save only for Kyle Witt to stab home.

Young goalkeeper Powell was forced into action again moments later with a key save.

And then with four minutes remaining substitute Mark Langford headed home to make it 3-1.

"We battled hard and they are a decent team, nobody is top for no reason," said Pegasus joint manager Mick Panniers.

"It was always going to be a tough game, but I thought we created enough to win comfortably.

"It wasn't comfortable in the end because as soon as we went 2-0 up we gave a goal away so it was backs to the wall for a bit.

"But if we had taken some of our chances we could have won four or five and they're a decent team.

"I'm very pleased especially with their workrate.

"I thought particularly in the first half our passing was off a little bit, that final ball wasn't quick enough.

"But I don't mind grinding results like that so it was good."

Along with goalkeeper Powell, Panniers praised teenage defender Connor Davies-Austin who impressed at both ends of the pitch.

"Connor (Davies-Austin) was superb at the back," added Panniers.

"Connor for an 18-year-old he is starting to show the maturity now that's keeping him in the side, he's keeping some good players out.

"Pushing forwards as well he had a couple of decent strikes in the first half, the lad played very well.

"Brandon (Powell) has come on a lot and been playing a lot better than he did.

"Not that he was playing badly before but he is just maturing and he's going to be a top goalkeeper.

"We're looking to strengthen again in the next couple of weeks but in the position that we are we've got to do that."