Gloucestershire FA Cup

Bristol Rovers 5 Slimbridge 2

SLIMBRIDGE battled hard at the Memorial Stadium against Bristol Rovers in the Gloucestershire FA Cup and twice came back from behind.

But they were ultimately undone on the last 15 minutes of the game as the team began to tire, having not played for two week previously, and against a strong Rovers side.

Rovers made a good start, and took an early lead, when trialist Ross Cook powered home a fourth minute header to put the hosts ahead, as The Swans adjusted to their surroundings.

Slimbridge equalised when James Harding was hauled down in the Rovers box on the half hour mark, and Adam Mace confidently stepped up to convert the penalty.

The second half was only three minutes old when Rovers took the lead again, with a piledriver from another trialist, Jae Kim, giving Adrian Kowalski, in the Slimbridge goal, no chance.

Still the Swans fought on, and Joe Stokes drew the scores level for the second time with a peach of a strike three minutes later.

Two minutes later, Harding had a great chance to put the visitors ahead, but was denied by a good stop from Will Puddy in the Rovers goal, and the home side went straight up the pitch and regained the lead, Byron Moore netting after two good blocks saw the ball spin to him on the edge of the Swans’ six yard box.

As the game reached the closing stages, fitness levels began to tell, with Billy Bodin, and, in the last minute, Ryan Broom, netted to give the scoreline a slightly flattering appearance, but there was no doubting that no-one in the Slimbridge side let themselves down, on another historic night for the football club.

Slimbridge team: Kowalski, Grimes, Mace, Ryan Thwaite, Rich Thwaite, Turner (Haskayne 45), Twyman, Stokes, Smith (Matondo 65), Harding (Martin 50), Lawson Supporters Man of the Match: Ryan Thwaite