Green adds a touch of colour to stylish win (From Gazette Series)

Green adds a touch of colour to stylish win

Slimbridge 2 Highworth Town 0

SLIMBRIDGE took the points with a 2-0 win at Wisloe Road against a fading Highworth Town side that, until recently, were right up in the main pack with games in hand following their FA Vase exploits.

Two early strikes from Julian Freeman and Matt Green settled the issue with Rich Moore outstanding at the back in his 'temporary' defensive role, deputising for injured skipper Andy Pritchett.

Doug Gray's side started well when Ross Casey crashed a 20 yard free kick round a defensive wall onto the bar. The home side took the lead on nine minutes after pressure built on the Town defence. Fred Ward made room for himself 12 yards out and bright a good save from mark Turner who could not hold the rasping shot. The predatory Freeman was first to react to tuck the ball into the net.

Town's first effort on goal came from Ian McSherry on 17 minutes from distance, Ryan Chandler taking comfortably. Two minutes later and Slimbridge went two up. Craig Cole beat the off side trap up the right and picked out Matt Green at the far post, who steadied himself before drilling the ball into the net.

This acted as a wake up call to Highworth and with Dave Webb prominent in midfield, started asking questions of the home defence. Moore and Wayne Hill looked strong in reply with positive break-up play for the most part that reduced the visitors into taking long range shots at Chandler.

McSherry, who was lively up front for Town, had a couple of speculative efforts but the best chance fell to Ross Adams who hit a volley on the turn that narrowly missed a post, with Chandler scrambling. Casey and Mike Green then turned the tide in midfield, ably abetted by War, Gary Marshall, manfully soldiering on with a knock, and Matt Green smothering Town's attacking intentions.

The last action of the half saw McSherry test Chandler from just inside the box after clever work by Webb, but the confident goalkeeper gathered well. Cole didn't reappear for the second half having limped off at half time and finally Marshall had to quit on 55 minutes with Dave Phillips and Nick Rieger replacing them.

Highworth started the second period well but couldn't find an opening from some plentiful possession, but by the hour mark had seemingly run out of attacking ideas.

On 63 minutes, Freeman was unlucky to see his firm shot taken well by Turner after he'd created an opening for himself. Seven minutes later, Highworth spurned a glorious chance of reducing the deficit when Adam Giles struck a foot out at a fast low cross from Matt Jack, only to balloon the ball over the bar with only Chandler to beat. Shortly after, Moore forced his way forward from his defensive duties to put in Rieger who grazed the upright with a firm drive, to relieve pressure on the home defence.

The last serious action on the Highworth goal came from Freeman who turned a shot just wide under pressure. The final word came from the heavens, with a deluge of hailstones in the closing minutes, raining down with flashes of thunder and lightning in the distance. A dramatic end to the match indeed. As the final whistle went and everyone rushed off. Whatever happened to the normal warm down so religiously played out normally at the conclusion of proceedings! A very rare finale to a game it was.

After the match Slimbridge manager Doug Gray was full of praise for his injury ravaged side: "There were some big hearts out there today, they did themselves and the club proud. The heavy schedule is certainly testing us at the moment, we could almost make up another team from the injury list".

Slimbridge team: R Chandler, W Hill, J Embling, Mike Green, Matt Green, R Moore, E Ward, R Casey, J Freeman, C Cole (D Phillips 45), G Marshall (N Rieger 55). Sub not used: S Badham.