Shock cup defeats for Slimbridge (From Gazette Series)

Shock cup defeats for Slimbridge

Hellenic League Challenge Cup Preliminary Round

Cirencester United 3 Slimbridge 3 (after extra time) Cirencester won 4-2 on penalties

UNITED won a penalty shoot out at the Corinth Stadium following a 3-3 scoreline after extra time, to provide one of the day's biggest shocks in the Hellenic League Challenge Cup Preliminary Round.

The visitors had been reduced to ten men during extra-time with the controversial sending off of goalkeeper Ryan Chandler, which exposed stand-in Rich Moore to the spot kick finale.

With half of what would be considered the first choice starting line up missing, perhaps the visitors were going to be up against it, but the early signs didn't indicate this. Two first-half goals put Slimbridge ahead at the interval, courtesy of James Ackland's strike on 12 minutes and James Firth dispossessing home goalkeeper Matt Keslake on the stroke of half-time, to place into an empty net.

All seemed under control from the Slimbridge point of view until disaster struck on 81 minutes when slack marking allowed Graham Robinson to run free and hit a terrific rising shot into the top corner of the net to reduce the deficit.

Barely two minutes later and United were on level terms. Robinson again found himself in space to put in a strong shot that Chandler could only parry to Ben Potter, following up, who neatly tucked the ball away.

The 90 minutes finished with Slimbridge trying to force a winner but some stout defending took the game into extra time.

Four minutes into extra time, Rich Evans guided a cross over the advancing Keslake and a brief period ensued with the visitors dominating again, but just at the end of the first period came the incident that effectively done for Slimbridge. Chandler was red-carded for an alleged stamping offence in his box, and United's Mark Warrinder tucked away the penalty past Moore.

The second period of extra time produced a couple of spurned chances for the visitors and one notable save from Moore, but after 120 minutes it was 3-3.

A penalty shoot out to decide the tie ended with Keslake repelling Moore's spot kick and United had won a famous victory 4-1 on penalties.

Post match, a sombre Slimbridge manager, Doug Gray, admitted: "Things went horribly wrong with the controversial dismissal of Ryan Chandler and that, with the best part of half the side missing or carrying knocks, it was perhaps asking a lot, but that's football for you. I take nothing away from United, they stuck in there and got the result".

Slimbridge: R Chandler, J Ackland (A Philip 65), J Embling, A Pritchett, A Thomas, Matt Green (R Moore 87), E Ward, Mike Green, J Firth, R Evans, M Devlin (R Casey 88).

<sum> Tomorrow, after four consecutive cup matches, Slimbridge return to Hellenic Premier action with a trip to North Leigh, kick off 3pm, and then on Tuesday make the long trip to play Milton United with a 7.45pm kick off. <sum> Slimbridge have a home tie in the second round of the FA Vase against fellow Hellenic Premier rivals, Chipping Norton Town, scheduled for Saturday, November 20. <sum> Danny Thorpe has returned to Almondsbury Town whom he left to join Slimbridge last March. Danny leaves on amicable terms, but was feeling frustrated at not getting a regular starting berth.

GFA Challenge Trophy - First Round Hallen 4 Slimbridge 3

SCREWFIX Premier side Hallen knocked holders Slimbridge out of this season's trophy in a game of highly attractive football from both sides.

The visitors stormed into a 3-0 interval lead, but the second half saw Hallen roar back to snatch the game 4-3.

It was end-to-end early on without either goalkeeper being seriously tested, until Slimbridge took the lead on 16 minutes. Rich Moore broke up the left and put a low ball into the box for Richard Evans to net from close in.

With the returning Fred Ward on the right and Steve Badham on the left, Slimbridge dominated a first half with good ball into the box that caused Hallen all sorts of defensive problems.

On 30 minutes, a Badham cross was headed back across goal for the on-rushing Moore to drill in and double the lead.

Eight minutes later a Mike Green corner was met perfectly by Julian Freeman to head beyond the despairing dive of Steve Scannel to make it 3-0 at the break.

The second half started perfectly for a Hallen side in need of a confidence boost, with Ron Mowatt driving through a packed area on 46 minutes after the ball was worked up the right.

On the hour, the game was temporarily halted for the referee to have treatment after taking a tumble, and resumed with Freeman heading wide an inswinging Badham corner.

With 72 minutes gone, Ward was forced to limp off and within a minute Hallen scored to reduce their deficit to one goal. Tom Collett evading a tackle after intercepting a wayward pass, rounded Ryan Chandler, and stroked in.

Straight from the kick-off, Slimbridge lost the ball which was fed to Collett down the left, and a terrific burst of speed took him clear to finish with aplomb from some 12 yards, a high angled drive high into the net, straight across Chandler, to make it all square on the night.

With their tails up, Hallen pressed again, and on 76 minutes, Collett was brought down in what clearly looked to be a position a yard outside the Slimbridge box. The referee thought otherwise, and Andy Cooke stepped up to blast the spot-kick home for what proved to be the winner.

An amazing turnaround, and one has to admire the never-say-die spirit of the present Hallen side. It is easy to see how they had such an excellent FA Cup run, and look to be the side to beat in this season's Challenge Trophy competition, form permitting.

Slimbridge side: R Chandler, L Sterling, J Embling, A Pritchett, Mike Green (Matt Green 80), R Moore, E Ward (J Ackland 72), R Casey, J Freeman, R Evans, S Badham.