Western League Premier Division

Bishop Sutton 1 Slimbridge 2

A LAST minute winner from Adam Mace nicked all three points for Slimbridge at Bishop Sutton on Saturday.

Trailing to a neat first half strike from Josh Hutchinson, a disjointed performance from the visitors was turned around with the introduction of Sean Lawson, back from a hamstring injury for the final half hour.

Lawson provided assists for Paul Fahy's equaliser with 13 minutes left and Mace's goal to leave Slimbridge fourth in the table.

Chances were few and far between early on – Jamie Martin saw his shot saved by Sutton keeper Josh Barrington after good work from Sam Turl on nine minutes, while the home side could count themselves unlucky not to have taken the lead three minutes later when Jake McCormick's piledriver cannoned back into play off the Slimbridge bar with Dave Evans beaten all ends up.

Martin's cross on 17 minutes just evaded Kyle Knott and Evans had to be alert at the other end to tip a deflected shot from James Stinson just round the post as the game settled down.

On 23 minutes, the home side took the lead when Stinson's pass saw Hutchinson in acres of space on the right of the Slimbridge box, and he drilled the ball home.

As Slimbridge struggled to get into any sort of rhythm, it took a point blank save from Evans to keep out a header from Lee Sweet that could have seen the hosts build a decent lead just before the half hour mark.

In the final minute of the first half, Joe Dakwa just failed to get on the end of Hutchinson's cross, and the Swans could count themselves lucky to go in at the break just a single goal behind.

The introduction of Lawson just before the hour mark changed the changed markedly, with the visitors dominating the final third of the match. Barrington pulled off two magnificent saves from Mace, but it was beginning to look as if it was going to be one of those days for the Swans. When Barrington again defied Lawson's superb 73rd minute strike, the home side must have been thinking that they could hold on and take the points.

On 77 minutes, the breakthrough finally came for Slimbridge – Lawson made a mazy run down the right flank, and his cross was met by Fahy to finally put the visitors on the scoresheet.

Six minutes from the end, Barrington was again Sutton's saviour, making another superb stop from Fahy's header, but the home side were finally undone as the game entered stoppage time.

Lawson, this time on the left flank, twisted and turned past three defenders before laying the ball back to Mace, who slid the ball home to the delight of the travelling Slimbridge contingent.

Slimbridge next return to FA Vase action, entertaining Oxford City Nomads at Wisloe Road next Saturday (3pm), before entertaining Longwell Green Sports on Tuesday, October 7 (7.30pm).

Slimbridge: Evans, Turl, Mace, Rich Thwaite, Tunnicliff, Turner, Fahy, Parrott, Martin (Freeman 72), Davies (Lawson 57), Knott (Ryan Thwaite 53)

Goals: Fahy 77, Mace 90.

Star man: Adam Mace.