Evo-Stik Southern, West

Slimbridge 2 Bristol Manor Farm 1

You can normally guarantee entertainment when Slimbridge and Bristol Manor Farm meet, and, even after a three-year break while the clubs were in different leagues, normal service was resumed in an eventful afternoon at Thornhill Park.

Farm demonstrated why they were top of the pile and unbeaten in the League with some very impressive play, especially in the first half when Aaron Robbins put them ahead.

But they were more than matched by the Swans, for whom Kieran Squires and Nathan Payne both opened their Southern League accounts, as Slimbridge inflicted Farm’s first defeat of the season, and record their first home points of the campaign.

The first half was real end-to-end stuff - Jordan Metters was off target with an early effort on three minutes, while the Swans replied a minute later after Joey Stokes and Marley Thomas combined well to win a corner, which saw Kieran Squires’ header saved by Farm Keeper Ashley Clark.

As the teams traded chances, Dean Stamp was off target for Farm after good work from Ben Bament at the scoreboard end while Henry Birkett saw his long range effort go wide before ten minutes were on the clock.

Marley Thomas was looking a constant threat for the home side, and his mazy run and shot on 17 minutes was just off target.

As the home side pressed, Adam Mace’s effort was wide after the ball came to him on the edge of the Farm box, but Farm hit back, and Stamp’s header from Lloyd Mills’ cross was over the bar as the play flowed from end to end.

Just after the half hour, Farm took the lead - Aaron Robbins made some room for himself on the edge of the Slimbridge box, and a neat turn saw him make space to drill home past Ollie Hall and out the visitors in front.

With momentum behind them, Sam Gilbert and Jordan Metters combined well, but Metters’ effort was just over as Farm sought to capitalise on their lead.

Five minutes before the break though, it was level as Kieran Squires met Adam Mace’s cross with a towering header to level things up at the half.

The second period didn’t quite match the entertainment factor of the first, but was still a great advertisement for Southern League football.

With Slimbridge pressing hard, Thomas had a dangerous looking effort blocked, and then was again foiled after being played in by Jack Twyman.

Farm were also looking dangerous though, and a mix up between Korey Pring and Swans Keeper Ollie Hall saw the Swans concede a corner, which Slimbridge cleared.

On 68 minutes, Steve Kingdon headed over for Farm after a good Free Kick from Metters, as the game again started to swing from end-to-end.

Slimbridge Manager Freddy Ward made a substitution on 69 minutes, bringing on Nathan Payne for Joe Stokes, and was instantly rewarded - Adam Mace made room for himself to shoot on his left foot on the edge of the Farm box, and despite a supernb stop from Mace’s effort by Clark, Payne was on hand to knock home the rebound and put the home side into the lead for the first time.

As Slimbridge pressed to try and increase their advantage, Thomas had an effort saved after good work from Jack Twyman.

With ten minutes remaining, Referee Phil Stayings spotted a tug on Farm’s Stamp in the Slimbridge box and awarded a penalty to the visitors. Harley Purnell stepped up to take the kick but blasted his effort high over Ollie Hall’s crossbar.

Farm could still have pulled it back, and with five minutes remaining, Stamp had an effort blocked.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Thomas found himself through on goal, but Clark again made a good stop, and the Swans played out time to record a memorable victory.

Slimbridge face two away trips this week - they travel to Kidlingon on Wednesday (7.45pm), before making the journey to Mangotsfield United next Saturday (3.00pm) Team: Hall, Turl, Squires, Pring, Thwaite, Turner, Twyman, Birkett (Luke Payne 84), Stokes (Nathan Payne 69), Mace (Harper-Emerson 78), Thomas Supporters Man of the Match: Kieran Squires