Excellent Wisloe Road display brings Witney's run to an end (From Gazette Series)

Excellent Wisloe Road display brings Witney's run to an end

Hellenic League Premier Division Slimbridge 3 Witney United 1

GOALS from Steve Badham, Andy Varnam and Robbie Colwell steered Slimbridge to victory but not before prolific scorer Lee Keyes had set up an interesting finale.

Slimbridge dominated the first half possession but did not have things all their own way as some shuddering tackles brought many a forward surge to a premature end.

Matt Green volleyed just wide of the Witney goal and Badham forced a good save from goalkeeper Paul Tassell early on in the game.

Varnam netted on 14 minutes but he was called back for a handball offence and it took another seven minutes of continuous pressure on the Witney goal for the Wisloe Road side to draw first blood.

Badham drifted a cross over Tassell from the left and the ball dropped into the net off the back post.

Perhaps a bit fortuitous for the home side but there was no hint of that about the goal on 36 minutes that doubled the Slimbridge lead.

Colwell flicked on to Varnam in space down the right and, running into the area, he unleashed a powerful rising shot that flew past Tassell and into the net from 12 yards.

As the interval beckoned, Alton Axton received a quickly-taken free-kick from the edge of the area but dragged his shot wide of an unguarded net with Tassell out of position.

Witney regrouped after the break and had their first clear shot on the home goal when goalkeeper Adam Thomas did well to claw a pile-driver from Matt Brandish round a post.

Back came Slimbridge and, on the hour, a delicate cross-field chip from Badham found Axton in space to head over Tassell but the ball went the wrong side of the post.

Colwell fired a couple of efforts just off target but at the other end Jamie Cook should have done better when he found himself in a good position from a cross from the left.

Witney made things interesting by reducing the deficit with a goal on 73 minutes.

A good move that started up the right saw the ball reach Keyes, who made room for himself to slot past an exposed Thomas.

The goal acted as a wake-up call for Slimbridge, who pressed forward again and sealed the game on 81 minutes.

Nathan Haisley powered up the right to put a low cross into the feet of Colwell, who fired into the net from close range.

After six successive wins, Witney were staring defeat in the face, which regrettably saw some less than pleasing individual tangles before the final whistle, epitomised by the senseless altercation between Mike Green and Keyes, which saw both of them cautioned as time ran out.

Slimbridge took the game but the visitors will have a chance of making amends in a Floodlit Cup Quarter-Final tie at Witney on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Slimbridge: Adam Thomas, N Haisley, Ashley Thomas, Mike Green, J Embling, A Axton, Matt Green, J Meadows, A Varnam (J Tustain 79), R Colwell, S Badham. Goals: Badham (21), Varnam (36), Colwell (81).