AFC Totton 2-1 Slimbridge

By Rob Peck

Slimbridge Boss Lee Driver-Dickerson will be disappointed to see his side go down to yet another stoppage time goal, this time on 94 minutes as the Swans went down at the Testwood Stadium to a decent AFC Totton side.

On a heavy pitch, which only just passed a 9am inspection it was Slimbridge who started the brightest in a dour first-half.

The home side had a penalty appeal ignored by referee Niall Clinton when Jaden Maddock caught Jack Smith in the face with his boot as he stooped down to head the ball, resulting in Smith leaving the field with a broken nose.

On 32 minutes the Swans took the lead when Josh Beadle found Yeshaya Lomotey who unleashed a terrific shot from 25yards.

Slimbridge were pressing for a second goal now and when Edji Mbunga laid a lovely ball into the path of Dan King, the Gloucester City loanee, let fly from 18 yards only to see his shot palmed away for a corner.

Maddock then went on a good run up the right and his cross found Mbunga whose powerful drive was blocked by a defender. A bad back pass by the home side left their keeper in big trouble and as the Swans tried to take a quick corner with no defenders back the keeper deliberately hoofed the ball away resulting in him being cautioned.

Totton had obviously had a half time talking to as they came out looking a different side in the second period. The turning point in the game came on 53 minutes when Mbunga was sent off for retaliating to a foul, pushing his opponent with two hands leaving the referee with no option but to dismiss the Swans forward.

Slimbridge paid for this lack of discipline and the home side were level ten minutes later when a good cross from the right was headed home by Justin Bennett.

The Swans were under the cosh now and defended brilliantly against a rampant home side who were pushing for the winner.

Superb blocks by Christien Turner, Joe Noakes and Korey Pring denied the home side a sniff at goal and a couple of superb saves by Lewis Adams kept the score level.

With the referee notifying a minimum of 5 minutes of stoppage time the Swans continued to hold on but on 94 minutes disaster struck when a low cross from the right was tapped home at the far post by substitute Eddie Perrett to send the home side delirious and leave the Swans a very dejected outfit.

Manager Driver-Dickerson must now try and lift his squad for some important games coming up starting with a home game against high-flying Yate Town on Saturday, followed by a visit to fellow strugglers Mangotsfield Utd on Saturday, December 22nd and then another home game versus league leaders Blackfield and Langley on Saturday, December 29th.

Slimbridge: Adams, Maddock, King, Pring, C Turner, Noakes, Mendes, M Turner, Mbunga, Lomotey (Dunbar 81), Beadle (Smith 63)

Supporters' Man-of-the-Match: Joe Noakes

Attendance: 219.