Slimbridge 1

Winchester City 3

IN a game of very few chances, where two failures at the back from Slimbridge cost the home side a point, writes Rob Peck.

Slimbridge included new signing Steven Jackson playing at the heart of the home defence, replacing the suspended Joe Noakes.

Winchester’s Joe Cook fired over early on, before the lively Oli Bailey sprung through the home defence only to see Christien Turner make a last-minute tackle and clear the impending danger.

On 10 minutes, Lewis Adams in the home goal made a double save from Bailey before the follow up was cleared off the line by Jackson. As Winchester pressured the home side they made the breakthrough on 15 minutes. Ollie Griggs, picking up the ball on the right corner of the box, drilled the ball across goal and into the net off the far post.

Slimbridge thought they had equalised after 28 minutes, a free-kick on the halfway line was floated into the box, Christian Turner's back header falling to Dean Turner, who hooked the ball into the net only to be ruled offside.

The equaliser for Slimbridge came on 36 minutes after a spell of persistent play. Liam Smith played in Dean Tuner to riffle the ball into the net.

The second-half was uninspiring with neither side tacking control of the game, Smith had a half-chance on 50 minutes - hitting his shot straight at Ryan Pryce.

Boss Lee Driver-Dickerson made a double substitution on 64 minutes, Edji Mbunga and Smith being replaced by Jayden Maddock and Josh Beadle.

Gloucester City loanne Dan King had a couple of weak shots from the left before Will Hawes found Pryce with his shot.

With just over 15 minutes remaining, Maddock charged down the right flank and his first time shot was miss-hit wide from 18 yards out. Hawes felt aggrieved for receiving a yellow card for his 50/50 challenge on Pryce as both went for a loose ball down the middle. Adams in the home goal was forced into a near post save from Bailey, who had cut in from the left wing after passing Pring.

As the game entered the last minute of normal time, Jackson and Pring gave the ball away to Bailey, who rounded Adams and slotted home into an empty net to wrap up the score and a miserable afternoon for the home side.

Slimbridge: Adams, King (Martin 83), Mbunga (Maddock 64), Pring, Jackson, C Turner, D Turner, M Turner, Dunbar, Hawes, Smith (Beadle 64)

Attendance: 75

Supporters' man-of-the-match: Christien Turner

Next up for the Swans is a short trip into Wiltshire to face Melksham Town next Saturday at 3pm.