Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West

Slimbridge 1

Shortwood United 2

SHORTWOOD United left Thornhill Park with local bragging rights after a come-from-behind victory saw former Slimbridge striker Will Morford notch a brace.

Slimbridge started by far the better of the two sides, with former Wood winger  Marley Thomas causing all sorts of problems for the visitors - his effort with just three minutes gone brought an equally impressive save from Wood Keeper Josh Langley, and Lee Smith’s header from the resulting corner was agonisingly off target as Slimbridge pressed.

Four minutes later, Smith was too high with another effort as Slimbridge kept the pressure up, and didn’t allow Shortwood to settle into any rhythm.

Adam Mace went close on 14 minutes, with an angled shot which saw Langley forced into action again, and it was no surprise when, two minutes later, Slimbridge took the lead.

Good interplay between Dave Merrick, making his debut for the side, Dean Turner and Mace saw Thomas through on goal, and he gave Langley no chance to put the home side ahead.

Going behind spurred Shortwood into life, and Rich Thwaite made a good block to stop deflect a goalbound effort from Steve Davies two minutes after the goal.

After Mace had another long range effort saved, Shortwood were allowed back into the game when Ryan Thwaite’s clumsy challenge on Chris Withington saw the visitors awarded a penalty. Marcus Beauchamp dived to his right to push out Morford’s spot kick, but Morford reacted quickest to the loose ball and drilled home the equaliser on 26 minutes.

Momentum began to swing back towards the visitors as a result of Morford’s strike, and although Smith was unlucky failing to find Thomas on a break down the Slimbridge left flank with Thomas well placed, Shortwood started to create their own opportunities - Andy Lewis brought a good stop from Beauchamp as Shortwood began to press, but the sides went in level at the break.

The Swans didn’t manage to exert the same degree of influence over the second period as they did the first, and were given a warning after four minutes of the second half, when Nick Peare’s header from a corner drifted just wide, but a minute later, Morford was given too much space after some good work down the Shortwood right flank, as the cross came over, and he converted to put the visitors into the lead.

The rest of the game settled into a game of attrition far removed from the end to end play of the first half, with chances at a premium - Dean Turner’s effort after good play by Sam Turl saw his effort blocked, but Slimbridge’s long ball approach was comfortably dealt with by the Shorwood defence.

Five minutes from time, Liam Meredith’s effort was deflect wide as the visitors tried to finish the game off, and Marley Thomas felt he may have had a shout for a penalty when he went to take the ball past Langley and was caught in the box, but Referee Neil Pratt, who had a good afternoon, ruled his decision a goal kick, and Shortwood played out time to record the win.