Slimbridge blew the Hellenic title race wide open with a a six-goal demolition job of Kidlington, writes Tim Blake.

Expectations of a game expected to be tightly fought between two of the top three sides in the Premier League were confounded by a dominant and powerful performance by the Swans.

Slimbridge took the lead through captain Marvyn Roberts within three minutes and never looked like relinquishing their advantage against a Kidlington side who never hit their stride. Roberts doubled the home side’s advantage just before the interval, and second half goals from Micky Bryant, Danny Chandler, Paul Carter and a Tom Cole penalty completed the rout.

Slimbridge took the lead with the first meaningful move of the game.

Carter’s corner was met by a superb diving header from Swans’ captain Roberts to put them ahead.

On 26 minutes, the visitors felt that a challenge by Speers on Anaclet Odhiambo as he broke through on goal deserved a red card, but referee Steve Dolton decided that Speers was not the last man and he escaped with a yellow.

Ben Willoughby’s subsequent free kick crept wide of the Slimbridge goal.

With a minute to go before half-time, Craig Cole’s break and cross down the left flank saw Roberts notch his second headed goal of the game to put Slimbridge firmly in control at the break.

Five minutes after the break, the game was effectively ended as a contest by another nicely crafted move. Ben Wood’s shot from outside the penalty box saw Macnamara make a superb save to push his shot away, but the ball came back across the box for Bryant to finish off from close range.

Craig Cole set substitute Danny Chandler through, but he shot over the bar.

The Slimbridge marksman was not to be denied though, and he extended the home side’s lead on 76 minutes.

After being played through on goal, Chandler lobbed Macnamara to score the home side’s fourth of the afternoon.

Carter was next on the scoresheet two minutes later when a cross was cleared to him outside the Kidlington box, and his rocket shot gave Macnamara no chance.

With a minute remaining, Speers made a foray into the Kidlington box, and was felled after a neat sidestep.

Tom Cole stepped up and confidently stroked the ball home to complete a memorable afternoon for Slimbridge.

Slimbridge: Evans, Cornwall, Wellon, Sterling, Speers, Wood, Bryant, (Chandler 62) T. Cole, Roberts (Langworthy 84), C. Cole (R. Wilton 89), Carter Goals: Roberts 3, 44, Bryant 50, Chandler 76, Carter 79, T. Cole 89 (Pen).