Evo-Stik Southern, West

Winchester City 3 Slimbridge 0

SLIMBRIDGE are slipping dangerously close to Evo-Stik Southern, West relegation after a 20th defeat from 32 matches on Saturday.

The Swans are just seven points ahead of basement side Bishops Cleeve – and Cleeve have two games in hand on Slimbridge – with one team going down this season.

On Saturday, The Swans returned pointless from Hampshire despite an improved display, going down to a 3-0 defeat against play-off hopefuls Winchester City.

With just four minutes on the clock the home side were in front when player manager Craig Davis struck a free kick from 18 yards past the helpless Ollie Hall in the visitors goal.

On a bitterly cold afternoon the Swans were struggling to contain a rampant Winchester side and two superb saves by Hall along with two strikes against Hall's woodwork kept the Swans in the game.

However disaster was to strike in the 27th minute when Henry Birkett was unlucky to deflect a shot past his own keeper to put Winchester two goals in front going into the break.

The second half was a different story as Slimbridge looked a different side. Joe Wilton had a good strike well pushed over by home keeper Ryan Pryce and a long range effort from Birkett went just over as the Swans tried to get back into the game.

On 57 minutes a great run up the right by Marley Thomas ended with a one, two with Jamie Martin but Thomas's final shot was cleared by the home keeper. Kieran Squires then headed a Thomas free kick just wide and a similar free kick by Thomas was just out of Freddy Wards reach at the far post.

Slimbridge should have reduced the deficit on 75 minutes when referee Robert Ablitt judged Thomas to have been tripped in the penalty area but Thomas struck his weak penalty kick straight at Pryce. The home side took full advantage by going straight up the other end and sealing the three points when Pat Cox headed home a cross from the right.

So another defeat for the Swans who now find themselves looking over their shoulders as Bishops Cleeve picked up a handsome 3 points away at Larkhall Athletic.

With the next four games that the Swans have left in March all coming at home, manager Freddy Ward will be looking to pick up some points in their bid to stave off the threat of relegation.

First is Kidlington on Wednesday evening followed by Didcot Town on Saturday, with the Swans face a crunch match with Barnstaple Town on Wednesday 28 - with Barnstaple currently one point ahead of Slimbridge - and then Larkhall Athletic on Saturday March 31.

Team: Hall,Turl,Ward,Pring,Twyman,Turner,Birkett,Searle(Squires 33)Martin,Wilton,Thomas.

Attendance 84 Supporters Man of the match: Ollie Hall.