Slimbridge 1

Paulton Rovers 0

SLIMBRIDGE made it six wins on the spin as they toppled league leaders Paulton Rovers to jump up to fourth in the Southern League table, writes Rob Peck.

With a poor start to the season, losing their opening three games and conceding 14 goals in the process, Slimbridge have turned their season around under boss Lee Driver-Dickerson assistant Alex Lumsden and coach Dion Chambers.

After last week’s exit in the FA Trophy, Driver-Dickerson made a number of changes to the side giving new signing from Yate Town, Adam Price his debut, Sol Wanjau-Smith returning from injury, Mike Ford and Christien Turner replacing Ioan Richards and Jack Goodall in defence.

Price almost made it a debut to remember, shooting just wide with his first touch of the game early on as the Swans settled into the game well. Captain Dean Turner’s effort after 9 minutes sailed over the bar from distance as the Paulton defence held strong.

At the other end, Jacob Sloggett failed to trouble Lewis Adams in the Slimbridge goal after his effort from a short corner fell wide. Edward Butcher’s cross from the left was cleared by Joel White for a corner as Paulton started to get more possession in the game.

A couple of strong tackles in the middle of the park ended with a yellow card apiece for Will Peck and Bradley Abraham as neither side allowed the other to take control of the game. With ten minutes of the first half remaining Myron Turner’s cross from the right was met by Wanjau-Smith at the far post but he failed to hit the target.

In the last play of the first half, a Slimbridge free-kick wide on the right was headed away by Abraham and out for a corner.

It was Slimbridge that started the second half the better side taking the lead after 51 minutes, White feeding a defence splitting through ball to Horrell who side footed the ball over the advancing Joseph Perry and into the net. The game started to get feisty in the middle as Paulton were looking for a way back into the game.

With 71 minutes of the game played, Perry spilled a Wanjau-Smith effort before the ball was cleared to safety with Slimbridge looking to hit Paulton on the counter attack. Adams in the Swans goal cut out a cross from the left as the visitors piled the pressure on the home side looking for an equaliser.

With 5 minutes left of normal time Perry pulled of a great save pushing Horrells effort from 20 yards around the post, the resulting corner was cleared up field and as a result of the play saw substitute Ali Sen hit the bar with a long range effort.

The visitors continued to press the Swans defence White clearing the ball from the line after a scramble in the box. In injury time Symes and Butcher both had efforts that missed the target giving the Swans a massive victory and maintain their unbeaten run.

Slimbridge: Adams, Ford, Peck, D Turner, White, C Turner, Horrell, Beckinsale (Sarson 77), M Turner, Price (Chambers 73), Wanjau-Smith (Dunbar 84)

Unused subs: Richards, Goodall

Paulton Rovers: Perry, Withey, Felix, Hitchings (Sen 53), Allan, Abraham, Shorney (Gay 61), Symes, Bament, Sloggett (Hillard 61), Butcher

Attendance: 128

Supporters' man of the match: Joel White