Slimbridge 1 Westfields 2

The Swans ended their home pre-season campaign with a defeat to Midland League Premier Division Westfields at Thornhill Park on Saturday.

The visitors took the lead with a first half penalty converted by Craig Jones, which was levelled up after the break by Adam Mace’s spot kick for the hosts.

Westfield nicked the winner in the 64th monute when sloppy defending saw Jamed Fedry left in too much space to convert from a corner which should really have been cleared.

With the Swans missing Dean Turner and Alex Hoyle, Westfields made the better start to the game, and their best early chance fell to Richard Greaves, who headed over when well place with ten minutes on the clock.

In the 20th minute, Westfields did take the lead - Cidric Grant’s neat turn saw him fool Adam Mace, and Mace clipped his leg as the striker went past. Referee Darre McMillan had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Jones drilled the ball past Luke Merchant to open the scoring.

The visitors continued to have the best of the play before the half, but were unable to add to their tally - Aiden Thomas’ effort that brought a good save from Merchant being their best opportunity in the remainder of the half.

With Sean Lawson introduced at half time in the usual raft of rolling subs, the Swans started a lot brighter, and were back on level terms six minutes into the second period. Nathan Payne was brought down in the Westfields box executing a similar move to Grant’s in the first half, with the same result. Mace placed the ball to Kieron Blackburn’s right to level things up.

On 64 minutes, Westfields again went ahead, when a corner was allowed to reach James Fedrey in the Swans six yard box, and he made no mistake to record the visitor’s second.

There was time for Swans Keeper Pete Davies, playing the second half instead of Merchant, to make a good block from James Molineux, as he broke following Lawson going close down the other end, but in the end, the home side can have no complaints with the result.

The Swans start their League campaign on Saturday (6th August, 3.00pm) when Winchester City make the trip to Thornhill Park. They then travel to Bishops Cleeve (Tuesday 9th, 7.45pm) and Yate Town (Saturday 13th, 3.00pm).

Squad: (All Played): Merchant, Ward, Mace, ry Thwaite, Turl, Haskayne, Twyman, Oldham, Martin, Orchard, Major, Lawson, Davies, Brock, Payne, Prothero