Southern League South and West Division

Slimbridge 1

Shortwood United 3

By Jim Cunneen

JAMES Singh celebrated his 29th birthday with a goal to help Shortwood United bag the Gloucestershire derby bragging rights over Slimbridge. 

Will Morford netted a brace against his former club as the Nailsworth side came from behind with ten men after Nick Peare was red carded.

Co-manager Alex Sykes said: “We dug in and showed tremendous spirit tonight and it was very pleasing to get this result – especially after we went down to ten men."

The game was fractious at times and threatened to boil over. Slimbridge enjoyed their fair share of possession but it is difficult to think of a meaningful save that Tom King had to make while Slimbridge keeper Burton kept Wood at bay with many good stops.

Wood made the worst possible start and fell a goal down inside a minute.

Niall Halford was spotted tugging Paul Fahy’s shirt and refree Morris gave the penalty, which Fahy himself took and made no mistake.

Wood responded and Singh immediately fired wide and a Peare free-kick beat everyone as it flew across the face of goal.

Meanwhile, former Wood striker Sean Lawson sent an overhead kick straight into the arms of King.

At the other end, Burton had to be alert to save from Jake Lee and a Singh header.

Slimbridge started the second half the brighter and a Lawson curler just cleared the Shortwood bar.

The game turned in the 53rd-minute. Peare was sent off, but this galvanised Shortwood.

Liam Meredith created his own space and sent over a fine cross and Singh soared to power home a 60th-minute header.

Six minutes later Adam Price let fly and Burton did well to parry but Morford slammed the ball home.

Shortwood were flying and Price and Morford seemed to be at the heart of everything.

It was no surprise when the Wood scored the third. This time it was Lee who shot and Burton was powerless as the ball came down off the bar and the unmarked Morford was left the easiest of finishes.

SHORTWOOD: King, Humphreys B, Humphreys N, Lewis, Halford, Peare, Meredith, Price (Bennett 80), Lee, Morford, Singh (Thomas 75).

Star Man: Will Morford.

Next up: Shortwood Utd v AFC Totton (Saturday, Feb 6).