Colwell finds his scoring touch (From Gazette Series)

Colwell finds his scoring touch

ROBBIE COLWELL scored three goals in two games as Slimbridge's pre-season campaign gathered momentum with a 3-1 win over Clevedon United and a 1-1 draw against Malvern Town.

Slimbridge 1 Malvern Town 1

SLIMBRIDGE and Midland Alliance League Malvern Town fought to a standstill at Wisloe Road on Tuesday.

The visitors Phil Preedy was denied any early goal by a tremendous close range save from Dimitar Dimitrov, who somehow managed to push the ball on to the crossbar.

Midway through the half, Town's goalkeeper Paul Wyatt made an equally good save from Robbie Colwell.

Mike Green and the visitors Nathan Jukes seemed to be having a private midfield battle and after both were given a stern lecture from the referee, Slimbridge went ahead on 36 minutes.

Carl Cresswell, proving a handful, was upended cutting into the box and Colwell drove the resultant penalty with such force that even though Wyatt got a hand to it, he could not stop it ending up in the back of the net.

From a breakout on 56 minutes, Town surged forward and a good cross from Preedy was met by Mark Shepherd coming in from the right but defender Jamie Inch managed to deflect it round the post.

Half chances came and went at both ends but after a plethora of substitutions from both sides, it was noticeable that Town were starting to look more threatening.

Rob Hopkins went agonisingly close for the visitors before they deservedly drew level eight minutes from time. A raking ball into the box from Shepherd was put into his own net by the unfortunate Inch.

An excellent work-out for both squads was the post-match verdict from both managers.

Slimbridge 3 Clevedon United 1

TWO second half goals from Robbie Colwell helped to seal a combative win for Slimbridge after Ashley Thomas had given them an interval lead.

Visitors to Wisloe Road, Clevedon United from Western League Division One competed purposefully and came close to opening the scoring when Damian Thorne brought a full stretch flick over from Ryan Chandler.

Tom Radcliffe led the way in probing for an opening in a well disciplined United defence and on 22 minutes put young Adam Philp in to test Niall Brown in the visitors goal.

Generally, the two confident defences held sway but on 41 minutes the home side went into the lead. Alton Axton forced Brown to concede a corner with a scorching drive. Martin Garvey floated the resultant corner kick to incoming defender Thomas, who put a downward header between two defenders on the goal line.

The second half commenced with Colwell drawing a save from Brown and as pressure mounted on the United defence, they conceded a second goal on 56 minutes.

Colwell showed the last defender a clean pair of heels, skilfully rounding Brown before rolling the ball into an empty net.

As the half wore on, Remi Prierra, looking very combative in the middle of the pitch, got forward to bring another good save from Brown, from a long Thomas cross.

On 84 minutes United pulled a goal back, Dan Vickery lobbing into an empty net from wide right after the ball broke to him from a deflected tackle with Chandler committed.

Problems struck the visitors three minutes from time with Pike collapsing, holding his knee after tangling with Axton. He had to be stretchered off, eventually taken to hospital for a precautionary check.

After the long delay and deep into added-on time, Colwell gave a repeat of his first goal, collecting a through ball and rounding Brown to slot home, after a burst of speed had carried him clear.

Tomorrow Slimbridge entertain Neath Athletic, kick-off 3pm. Neath Athletic are in their first pre-season, being the new club born out of two Welsh Division One sides, Neath AFC and Skewen Athletic.With this new team comprising a number of ex-Swansea and Cardiff players, it will be a very testing game for the Wisloe Road club.

On Tuesday Slimbridge make the short journey to Cheltenham Saracens with kick-off at 7.30pm.