Larkhall Athletic 2

Slimbridge 1

LEE DRIVER-DICKERSON made a number of changes to the side defeated at Highworth last weekend bringing in Under 18s player Finlay Brown for his senior debut to give a youthful look to the Slimbridge team with four players aged 18 and under, writes Rob Peck.

The injured Mark Magee was rested and Liam Smith returned to the side at the expense of Myron Turner, who dropped to the bench.

Slimbridge started the game on the front-foot, Steven Jackson gaining an early corner from which the home side cleared. A few moments later Liam Smith's long ball from deep in the visitors half found Dean Turner on the edge of the box unfortunately he was not able to take full control of the ball, so home keeper Shaun Semmens claimed.

The visitors made the early possession count, Will Hawes delivering a ball from the left across the box to Jackson who slammed home at the far post to give the Swans the lead.

Slimbridge continued to boss the game in search of a second goal. On 14 minutes Archie Brennan on the left played a bell through to Hawes who forced a save from Semmens.

Larkhall’s first venture forward resulted in a corner that was cleared downfield to Jackson linking up with Hawes only for Hawes shot to sail wide. With 20 minutes gone the home sides winger Wayne Nderemani swung a cross into the Swans box that caused panic Lewis Adams initial punch failed to clear the ball fortunately Christien Turner was on hand to head the ball clear.

With Larkhall now on the front-foot as the Swans tried to protect their valuable lead they levelled the score on 29 minutes - Nderemani skipping past Brown on the left and his pin-point cross found the unmarked Lewis Powell to tap in at the back post.

Larkhall started the stronger of the two sides in the second half, Dan Restorick shooting over from the left and Lewis Hunt also getting a shot away, but that also failed to hit the target.

On 53 minutes Brown produced an important block inside the box to advert a scoring opportunity.

Hope went close on 58 minutes heading over from a Larkhall free kick then five minutes later Matt Britton’s long range attempt fell straight into the arms of Adams. At the other end, Smith’s cross come shot was cleared by the home side before Hawes shot was well saved by Semmens.

With 15 minutes remaining a Slimbridge corner was cleared downfield to Nderemani on the left, but his shot was wide of the goal.

The visitors now pressing for a winner pushed forward, Dan King’s initial cross was cleared back to him and his second found the arms of Semmens. Martin picked up the ball on the right with five minutes of normal time remaining, but again Semmens was well placed to claim the cross. Adams was then forced into a save under pressure on the goal line, but was fouled in the process.

The Swans playing the ball out from the back found King in space but his shot from 30yards out flew over the bar. In the last minute of normal time Adams pulled off a point-blank save from Hope’s close range header to keep the scores level.

It was Hope that delivered the killer blow two minutes into injury time, rifling the ball into the Swans net unmarked inside the box to give the home side the lead.

Despite Slimbridge’s attempt to gain a late equaliser they returned home pointless again when they really deserved more from their first half efforts.

The Swans are in County Cup action on Tuesday evening when they face Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road with a 7.45pm kick-off and then next Saturday face relegation rivals Barnstaple Town at Thornhill Park.

Slimbridge: Adams, Brown, Brennan, Richards, Jackson (90+5 Lomotey), C Turner, D Turner, Smith (86 M Turner), King, Hawes, Dunbar (55 Martin)

Supporters' man-of-the-match: Liam Smith.