Toolstation Western League

Winterbourne United 1 Slimbridge 2

Two goals in seven second half minutes saw the Swans come from behind and turn around this game on the plastic at Oaklands Park.

Trailing to Mario Mateus' opener ten minutes into the second period, Leon Sterling's substitution, with Rich Thwaite being pushed up front five minutes later saw swift reward with firstly Thwaite, and then Sam Turl netting for the visitors to take the points back up the A38.

Slimbridge made a good start to the game as they adjusted well to the conditions and the bounce of the ball, and Lawson's early shot on three minutes forced Winterbourne Keeper Glenn Murley to push the ball behind for a corner. Rich Thwaite's effort from the resulting corner was cleared off the Winterbourne line to keep the scores level.

Slimbridge were pressing well, and Jamie Martin's neat ball played in Paul Fahy, forcing Murley to race from his goal and tackle the Swans' striker as he shaped to shoot. As Winterbourne started to begin to come back into the contest, Cameron Brown, who had a superb afternoon for the hosts, had two good efforts on the quarter hour mark.

The first one provided an easy save for Dave Evans, but the second was far more dangerous, and forced the Swans stopper into a good save.

On 26 minutes, Martin made himself some space with a good run, but his effort produced another good stop from Murley.

Lawson and Fahy were combining well up front, and they produced the best chance of the first period with five minutes remaining in the half, but Fahy's shot came back into play off the Winterbourne bar. There was still time for Brown to have a further effort which was too high for the home side, while at the other end, Martin lofted his effort high after being set through by Parrott's peach of a through ball.

The game continued to flow end to end at the start of the second half, with Brown again shooting over four minutes in, and Lawson producing a good volley which was deflected for a corner for the visitors.

Ten minutes into the half, the deadlock was broken - After Brown had forced another good save from Evans, Mateus went on a strong run from midfield. Shrugging off a couple of challenges, he drilled the ball past Evans from the edge of the Slimbridge box to put the hosts ahead.

Leon Sterling reacted immediately to the setback, sending Nathan Freeman on for Jamie Martin and moving Rich Thwaite up front while Freeman took over centre back duties. A mix up at the back immediately ensued, and Callum Brown was forced to clear the ball off the line as Evans and his defenders worked out who was supposed to be clearing the ball.

The change paid off in the 63rd minutes, when a sweeping move involving Turl and Fahy saw Fahy's sweet cross converted by Thwaite to level things up.

The game was subject to an unplanned stoppage in the 70th minute, when Referee Brian Durie was forced to retire after suffering a migraine attack, and one of his assistants took over the whistle, with a member of the Winterbourne backroom team assuming linesman duties.

Immediately, the new official had a big decision to make, as Thwaite chased a through ball from inside his own half.

Despite protests from the home players, the flag stayed down, and Thwaite continued down the right, playing the ball back across the box for Turl to convert and put the visitors into the lead.

Brown continued to be the potential danger for Winterbourne, and as the home side pressed, he forced another two saves from Evans, as well as supplying a pinpoint cross which was met by the head of Aaron Wilson as the game entered the last ten minutes, but Wilson's header was wide, and Slimbridge played out time to collect the points.

The Swans are hosting runaway leaders Melksham Town on Saturday. ko: 3pm.

Team: Evans, Turl, Brown, Odiero, Rich Thwaite, Ward, Turner, Parrott (Mills 70), Lawson, Martin (Freeman 61), Fahy

Supporters Man of the Match: Sam Turl