SLIMBRIDGE turned in one of their best performances of the season at league leaders Oxford City Nomads and should have left Marsh Lane with all three points.

Nomads, who have scored 117 goals this season, failed to net at home for the first time, a measure of the quality and workrate of the Slimbridge team, who all contributed to a performance that delighted the travelling fans.

The Swans can now feel optimistic of achieving a second top six finish on the bounce.

Slimbridge had a great opportunity to take the lead when a lovely move involving Marvyn Roberts and Liam Harding played Ross Langworthy in, but the youngster’s strike was well saved by Nomads keeper Alan Foster to keep the scores level.

Nomads demonstrated why they are top with a lovely flowing move on 15 minutes, when Jermaine Ferreira’s jinking run set up a chance for Pablo Haysham, but his shot drifted just the wrong side of the post.

Langworthy’s pace was proving effective in unsettling an obviously nervous Nomads side, and he brought another good save from Foster on 20 minutes, trying to finish off a good move involving Mike Bryant and Roberts.

As Nomads began to settle, they started to build a little period of pressure, and, after Dave Evans had made easy work of a shot from Albi Skendi, another sweet passing move forced Evans into a good save as Adam Morris’ shot looked destined for the top corner.

Nomads wasted the best chance of the first half on 34 minutes when a charged down Slimbridge clearance bounced high to Haysham with the goal in front of him but his effort went high and wide with only Evans standing in the way.

Evans was again called into action in the second half, pushing Conor McDonagh’s free kick out for a corner.

The Swans continued to press as the home side got more and more frustrated, and Will Wellon’s surging run from the back created a good chance for Langworthy on 61 minutes, but his shot drifted just wide of the post.

With seven minutes remaining, Nomads had a glorious opportunity to nick all three points, but Morris skewed his shot wide when well placed.

On 90 minutes,Rob Hine set himself up for a power drive across the Nomads box, but he managed to put the ball a yard wide of the post.

Nomads found themselves with a great opportunity to steal the game well into stoppage time, when Mark Bell’s dipping free kick cannoned off the bar.

Slimbridge: Evans, Anson, Cole, Sheppard, Wellon, Ward, Harding, Bryant, (Hine 85), Roberts, Martin (Higgs 55), Langworthy (Wilton 72).

Man of the match: Andy Sheppard.

Slimbridge finish their campaign with two home games. On Saturday they entertain Thame United (3pm), before Henley Town come to Wisloe Road the following Saturday (3pm).