WHEATSHEAF Old Boys FC manager Gary Bradshaw believes his side did just enough to warrant victory in their five-goal thriller with Datchet Village on Sunday.

There was little between the sides on the day, but goals from Jason Marney, Leevi Edwards and Jerrell Gumbs clinched all three points for Sheaf.

Bradshaw declared: “Obviously I’m delighted to get the win. It was a hard-fought battle. We played Datchet about six weeks ago and won 4-0 but they gave us a much harder game on Sunday.

“I’m very relieved to get the win. I think we just edged it, but they were very good on the break. They soaked up pressure and had very lively forwards.

“For possession and pressure, I would say that we just about edged it.” Wheatsheaf had to come from behind to secure the victory on Sunday after Jon Britcher had given Datchet the lead.

Bradshaw’s boys equalised just before the break through Marney but fell behind for the second time in the match when Britcher netted again.

However, Wheatsheaf refused to lie down and a mix-up at a corner allowed Edwards to level it up at 2–2 early in the second half.

It left both sides to push hard for a winning goal, and Wheatsheaf grabbed it with 10 minutes left on the clock thanks to Gumbs.

The thrilling victory sent Wheatsheaf to the top of the table, a position Bradshaw says comes with its own unique pressures.

“It puts us top, but my job now is to keep the players going,” he explained.

“We’ve been here before and come unstuck. We’ve got to play every game as if it’s a cup final.

“We’ve always been capable of winning the league, but there has been a problem with attitude.

“But the players have grown up mentally now and are up for the challenge.” And he added: “I think we are capable of winning it, but we’ve got to beat Real Milan and Wraysbury Bentons, those our are main rivals.

“If we can keep focused then there is a strong possibility.

“The founding members are ex-players so we’ve got experience on the management side.” Wheatsheaf now turn their attentions to the Bob Smith Trophy and a clash against Division One outfit Maidenhead Nomads this Sunday.

And Bradshaw knows his players cannot allow their standards to drop against lower league opponents.

“We’ve seen too many sides from the Premier take teams too lightly and come unstuck,” he warned.

“I will be gearing the side to stay focused and play as if it is against a Premier side. We’ve got to look at it as a game to win and try to do it.

“Cups are vitally important. Whatever you enter you try to win them. Last season, getting to a cup final kept us going.

“A cup final is just as important as winning the league.” **PICK up a copy of the Observer, out now, for all the latest sports news and action including pictures from Datchet versus Wheatsheaf** **FOLLOW the Observer on Twitter at @Observer_sports**