Western League Premier Division

Sherborne Town 3 Slimbridge 0

A DISAPPOINTING day in Dorset saw Slimbridge return home pointless after being comprehensively beaten by a Sherborne Town side who thoroughly deserved their win.

The home side started well and a fierce volley from 30 yards by Luke Winsper in the ninth minute which was well held by Dave Evans was just an early warning of things to come for the Swans.

Sherborne were certainly showing the high-flying Swans no respect as they attacked in numbers.

A cross from the left by Matt Day fell nicely to Winsper but with just Evans to beat he shot wide of the post.

On 18 minutes Freddy Ward upended Day some 20 yards from goal and Steve Burton's stinging free kick had to be punched away by Evans.

The home side should have gone ahead in the 20th minute when Harry Montacute found himself in acres of space after a cross from the left but he somehow managed to miscue his header wide of the post.

Slimbridge finally mounted an attack on 25 minutes when an astute pass from Alex Parrott set Paul Fahy away down the left wing, leaving two defenders in his wake, but his cross just evaded Jamie Hammond.

Just two minutes later the home side were ahead. A right wing cross by Haydn Hodges was easily headed home by Sam Jarman, who was unchallenged in the Slimbridge box, leaving Evans with no chance.

Sean Lawson had a half-chance on 30 minutes but his header from a Callum Brown cross went wide.

Sherborne finished the half strongly and the Swans were fortunate to go into the interval just one goal behind.

Slimbridge started a bit brighter in the second period and Parrott's free kick was headed just wide by Ben Tunnicliff.

On 52 minutes Swans keeper Evans launched a huge free kick into the Sherborne box, which evaded everyone and keeper Jamie Beale managed to get the tips of his fingers to the ball, which went straight to Lawson, who then squared the ball to Fahy, but the Swans' top scorer failed to connect.

Slimbridge were made to pay for not making the most of a good spell when, in the 61st minute, a Montacute cross was headed home by Luke Winsper, who was once again allowed far too much time and space.

Freddy Ward nearly pulled a goal back for Slimbridge on 72 minutes but his powerful shot from 18 yards was cleared off the line.

That was about as good as it got for the Swans as the home side completed the scoring in the 82nd minute.

Phil Ormrod won a tussle with Sam Turl on the halfway line and ran on unchallenged to place a good shot low past Evans.

Sherborne were denied a fourth goal near the end when a superb cross by Joe Smeeton was met with a powerful header from Sam Farthing but Ward was well placed to clear off the line.

The Swans must return to Dorset again on Saturday when they take on Gillingham Town in the Les Phillips Cup.

Slimbridge: Evans, Brown, Ryan Thwaite, Tunniclff (Freeman 63), Rich Thwaite, Ward, Turner, Parrott (Turl 55), Lawson, Hammond (Martin 62), Fahy.

Star man: Paul Fahy.

Attendance: 74.