Western League Premier Division

Slimbridge 0 Willand Rovers 1

THE inconsistency which has been a feature of this season struck again for Slimbridge, who, in a game low on entertainment, saw Willand Rovers head back to Devon with all three points.

The Swans remain in 17th position in the League, and are still 11 points from the bottom two, but badly need to pull a couple more wins together to get them looking back upwards rather then below them in the table.

The first real action of the game saw the decisive strike, as the Swans back four was caught flat-footed by a lofted ball, and Luke Durham neatly lobbed Dave Evans to put Willand into the lead with five minutes on the clock.

The Swans tried to respond, but a lack of quality in delivery hampered them all afternoon.

Alex Hoyle and Danny Chandler combined well to set Chandler up, but Willand Keeper Craig Veal was alert to the danger and came out of his box to clear.

Willand had two other chances before the break to increase their advantage, but Toby Gosling's shot was just the wrong side of the upright, and then Dave Evans made a good save from Durham, who had played a good one-two with Luke Alden to set himself up with an opportunity.

After the break, it was pretty much the same story. Evans made two more good stops from Joe Buchin, one a powerful header, and the second a shot which was pushed for a corner.

With three minutes remaining, the home side went down to ten men when Alex Hoyle was booked for a handball offence, and then talked his way into an immediate second yellow from referee Grant Taylor, but it made little difference to the outcome.

The Swans entertain bottom of the table Ilfracombe Town on Saturday before a busy week sees them travel to Bitton on Tuesday (7.45pm), host Longwell Green Sports next Thursday (7.45pm), and then visit Bishop Sutton on Saturday , April 12.

Slimbridge: Evans, Robinson (Fenner 66), Brown, Thornton, Tunnicliff (Brown 62), Twyman, Turner, Harding, Chandler (Fahy 55), Hoyle, Mace.

Star man: Dave Evans.