Slimbridge give thanks to the Green machine (From Gazette Series)

Slimbridge give thanks to the Green machine

Hellenic Supplementary Cup, First Round. Abingdon United 1, Slimbridge 2 (after extra time).

MIKE Green became the Slimbridge hero when he popped up with an extra time winner at Abingdon United in this Hellenic Supplementary Cup first round tie.

Slimbridge manager Doug Gray had to make changes for this game with bugs, injuries and unavailability, all taking their toll, with the likes of Ross Casey and Leon Sterling out and Rich Moore and Andy Pritchett not full fit, only making the bench.

Young Ashley Thomas took the captains armband and led suitably from the front, ably supported by a gutsy performance from evergreen Gary Marshall, who seemed to be in the thick of most of the action.

With Tommy Callinan, Joe Iatalese and Jon Embling also showing good determination against an early onslaught from a rejuvenated United, rebuilding under a new manager Andy Slater who was appointed just before Christmas after a disastrous first half of the season by their standards, the home side look to have brighter prospects on the horizon.

Dave Champ had two close strikes in the early stages, but for all their early possession, they did not make it count.

Slimbridge had their first sight of goal after 12 minutes when Steve Badham got a free kick from the edge of the area, past the defensive wall and caused Carl Wilkins in the home goal great difficulty to clear. Julian Freeman, after illness, made a welcome return but put a Fred Ward cross comfortably into the hands of Wilkins.

The visitors' Ryan Chandler had to react quickly on 26 minutes when the short, but skilful Anoclet Odihambo nearly got a snap-shot in from an acute angle. Against the run of play Slimbridge took the lead on 32 minutes. Defender Julian McCalmon lost the bagel on the edge of his area to the predatory Freeman who stroke into the box but was pulled down in an attempted recovery tackle. Craig Cole stepped up to take the resultant penalty kick and calmly netted, sending Wilkins the wrong way.

Back came United with Dean Moss and Nathan Woodley combining well to fashion a chance for the former to blast at goal but Thomas got a foot in to deflect the ball away for a corner. Green put an early second half chance over the bar after a lay off from Freeman, but then followed a period of end to end football without much serious conviction once the 18 yard line came into sight.

Just as it seemed the visitors were getting the upper hand, United equalised on 70 minutes. A hand ball decision against Thomas, making a clearance, went against him and this followed the second penalty of the game. Up stepped Marc O'Hara who struck the ball well but Chandler made a good diving block to his right. Unfortunately the ball rebounded to O'Hara who netted unchallenged.

This inspired Slimbridge to greater effort but superior possession failed to bring any reward. Although Embling fired over a Badham corner, generally the Abingdon defence stood firm. Moore came off the bench on 84 minutes but could not inspire a breakthrough although the fresher legs caused United to start looking vulnerable.

As the 90 minutes were nearly up, Odihambo brought a magnificent save from Chandler and the game went into extra time.

From the restart it was nearly all Slimbridge as the home side started to flag and Cole had two good chances but was unlucky to find Wilkins in top form. The winning goal came after 105 minutes of play on the stroke of the extra time change round. A Badham corner was missed by defenders and attackers alike in a packed goalmouth and drifted across the face of the goal where Green was on hand at the back post to jubilantly rifle home.

The second period of extra time saw Moore twice go close, bringing good saves from Wilkins and at the other end Chandler was temporarily indisposed after rushing out to foil a lunging Odihambo who had broken through the Slimbridge defence, but pushed the ball too far in front of him.

Slimbridge team: R Chandler, J Iatalese, J Embling, G Marshall, A Thomas, T Callinan (R Moore 84), E Ward, Mike Green, J Freeman (N Rieger 77), C Cole, S Badham. Sub not used: A Pritchett.

Slimbridge are next in action tomorrow, at home to Henley Town . Kick off 3pm. The reverse fixture at Henley last September was won 4-0 by the Wisloe Road club and if their promotion hopes are to stay alive, will surely need three points from this game.