Slimbridge 1

Edgware Town 0

Slimbridge progressed through to the preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup after a tight encounter against Spartan South Midlands League Edgware Town, writes Rob Peck.

Had the visitors striker Theo Ofori brought his scoring boots it would have been a different story for the Swans.

The Swans started the game strongly, Jamie Martin getting his head to a Myron Turner cross but his header sailed wide of the goal. Martin then burst down the left wing cutting in past two defenders before hitting his shot wide with keeper Harry Hauserman to beat.

Slimbridge, building the play from the backline found Rhys Sarson just inside the box, holding the ball up and then playing it into the path of Mike Ford whose first time shot from 18 yards found the back of the net via a deflection, giving the home side the lead after 11 minutes.

The home side continued to attack, Sarson shooting at the keeper then another shot blocked soon after. Myron Turner cross shot sailed high and wide as both sides battled with the strong wind blowing down the pitch.

Edgware got their first sight of goal on 24 minutes; Deon Marshall’s cross from the left was headed wide by the livewire Ofori. On the half-hour Edgware started to get back into game Eric Lopes forcing a save from Lewis Adams in the Swans' goal having beaten the offside trap from Ofori’s cross.

Five minutes later a free-kick to the visitors 30 yards out brought another save from Adams down low to his left from Lopes, Martin Flannery hit the side netting with the follow up as the Swans were caught napping at the back.

Edgware continued to press for the final few minutes of the first half, but were unable to get a shot on target.

The second-half was a much more even affair, with both sides creating chances but failing to make them count. Ofori having a good chance early on shooting over from 20 yards, Sarson and Myron Turner linking up on the edge of the box with Turner being robbed of the ball as he was about to shoot.

Visitors substitute Ethan Mooney caused the home side a few problems getting down the left wing, but his shot hit the side netting with players waiting in the box.

A Martin cross from the left found Leighton Tuodolo in space but his shot was blocked.

The industrious Dean Turner, working hard in the middle, nudged the ball across the box to Sarson, but the Edgware defence held strong blocking his effort.

On 69 minutes Ofori evaded the home defence and saw his close range shot beaten away by Adams with the goal at his mercy.

A few minutes later Ofori beat the defence again but this time he attempted to chip the ball over Adams his effort came off the top of the crossbar and out to safety.

At the other end, Dean Turner and Tom Handley’s shots were blocked as the Swans were desperately looking to increase their slender lead.

However, it was the home side that had the majority of the play for the final ten minutes seeing out the game with both Adam Bloomfield and Myron Turner narrowly firing over late on.

Edgware did get a late corner which the Swans defence dealt with to give the home side a narrow victory and a place in the next round of the cup at home to either Tring Athletic or Burnham on Saturday 24th August.

Gazette Series:

Assistant manager Alex Lumsden and boss Lee Driver-Dickerson Pic: Peter Barnes

The Swans start their league campaign next weekend visiting Melksham Town before entertaining Highworth Town on Wednesday, August 21st at Thornhill Park with a 7.45pm kick-off.

Slimbridge: Adams, Handley, Peck (Nesbeth 65), Ford (Chamber 79), C Turner, White, Martin (Bloomfield 79), D Turner, Sarson, M Turner, Tuodolo

Unused subs: Beckinsale, Aitken

Goals: Ford 11

Edgware Town: Hauserman, Marks, Beech, Burges, McCluskey, Arab, Lopes, Flannery (Koscien 61), Page (Amoah 77), Ofori, Marshall (Mooney 45)

Unused subs: Kpemou, McNair, Gaye(GK)

Attendance: 77

Fans' man-of-the-match: Dean Turner