Western League Premier Division

Bitton 0 Slimbridge 0

A HARD-working and resilient performance from Slimbridge saw them pick up another useful point at top six side Bitton, where the teams played out their second goalless draw of the season.

The result moves Slimbridge above Winterbourne to 16th position in the Western Premier League.

In an entertaining encounter, both teams cancelled each other out in the early stages, and it took 17 minutes until the first decent opportunity of the game went to the visitors.

Jack Twyman's ball into the box was punched clear by Bitton keeper John Rendell, and Twyman and then Paul Fahy combined to see an effort drift just wide.

Bitton were restricted to long range chances for the majority of the game, but on the half hour, a break involving Luke Bryan and Jacob Jackson had to be stopped by superb tracking back from Danny Chandler to avert the danger.

Before the break, Twyman, Chandler and Jamie Martin all combined well, but Martin's cross was too close to Rendell.

Bitton tried to up the tempo at the start of the second period, but good work from a solid Swans back four continued to restrict them to long range efforts. Dan Spill had a couple of efforts well off target, while Aysa Corrick was also well wide with another shot from outside the box.

Just after the hour, both sides had their best chances to break the deadlock.

Firstly, Chandler brought a great save from Rendell with a 25-yard free kick, and Bitton retaliated with Bryan forcing Dave Evans into a good stop.

As the game swung from end to end, Twyman and Fahy combined to set up Chandler, who saw Rendell make another good stop.

Bitton had a chnce to nick the points with the last kick of the match, but Leigh Edward-Samuels skied his effort way too high, and Slimbridge returned back to Gloucestershire with a precious point.

Slimbridge: Evans, Rutter, Brown, Tunnicliff, Hoyle, Ward, Knott, Twyman, Chandler (Kinnear 86), Martin (Turner 83), Fahy (Mace 75).

Star man: Freddy Ward.