North Leigh 4 Slimbridge 1

SLIMBRIDGE bowed out of this year’s FA Cup in a game eerily similar to the League encounter at Eynsham Park in August. 

The visitors took the lead just before the break with a contender for goal of the season from Adam Mace, but the hosts took advantage of some sloppy second half defending to put the game to bed with three goals in a 15 minute second half spell. A fourth North Leigh goal with practically the last kick of the match rubbed salt in the wounds for the Swans, who must regroup quickly for another away trip on Tuesday, this time in the League, when they visit third placed Swindon Supermarine.

It was a game of two halves - Slimbridge bossed the first period against a North Leigh side who looked nowhere near as effective as they did in the previous encounter, and should have gone into the interval with a far greater lead than they had. The second half, however, was a different matter, with the hosts controlling throughout, and looking good value for their victory at the final whistle. 

The Swans started well, and after Mace had seen his early shot blocked, nearly got lucky when North Leigh Keeper James Foster was forced to knock Lewis White’s back header for a corner with seven minutes on the clock. Minutes later, Alex Hoyle saw his header from Mace’s free kick drift over. 

North Leigh were finding it difficult to create chances at this point, and were restricted to long range and off target efforts - Morgan Williams and Callum Monish were both wide with their efforts, but the best chances were coming for the visitors. With 19 on the clock, Jack Twyman, Alex Hoyle, and Sean Lawson combined in a lovely move which saw Paul Fahy’s header go too high, and then Sam Turl and Twyman created a great opportunity for Lawson, but he was unable to reach the dangerous cross and North Leigh escaped. 

The hosts were still restricted to the occasional effort, but Adam Thomas was equal to Kieran Sanders’ effort on the half hour, pushing his effort behind for a corner. 

Slimbridge had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock on 34 minutes, when Turl, Fahy and Mace put together a lovely passing move, but Lawson was unable to convert Mace’s cross with the goal gaping in front of him. 

Three minutes before the break, the visitors took the lead - Mace was left in space 35 yards out, and his accurate effort gave Foster no chance to give Slimbridge the advantage. 

The second period started with pressure from the home side, as was to be expected, and both Monish and Sam Elkins had gone close before the equaliser arrived on 55 minutes - Ryan Thwaite was dispossessed by Aaron Woodley, and his cross was converted easily by Sanders to even things up. 

The momentum of the game was then completely with the home side - six minutes later, a North Leigh corner somehow found it’s way to Elkins on the back post and he bundled the ball in to put the home side in front. 

On 70 minutes, it was game over - Sanders played in Elliott Osbourne-Ricketts who beat Thomas easily. 

Thomas was called upon again on 78 minutes, stopping another Sanders effort with his feet, while at the other end, Foster was forced to tip a Jamie Martin Free Kick over as Slimbridge fought to get back into the game. 

With five minutes remaining, Elkins found the side netting with another effort, before Morgan Williams grabbed the fourth goal for the hosts after being left with too much space in the Slimbridge box. 

The Swans play their first ever game in the FA Trophy on Saturday, when they entertain Egham Town in a Preliminary Round tie at Wisloe Road (3.00pm)

Team: Thomas, Turl, Ryan Thwaite, Hoyle, Greening, Ward, Twyman, Blackie (Turner 70), Lawson, Fahy (Rich Thwaite 79), Mace (Martin 74)

Supporters Man of the Match: Ciaran Greening