Slimbridge 1-2 Frome Town

SLIMBRIDGE displayed tenacity in a narrow home defeat to league leaders Frome Town, writes Rob Peck.

Slimbridge included new signing Marley Thomas returning to the club from Cinderford Town.

And Thomas almost got on the score sheet after 12 minutes, when Frome keeper Kyle Phillips poor kick fell straight to his feet but a hurried shot towards the empty goal from 30 yards sailed just wide.

Most of the first half was a very even tactical affair with the two sides stopping each other from making any serious attempt on goal.

Dion Chambers filing in at the back in the absence of injured Callum Jones made a good tackle inside the box to deny the lively Jonathan Davies on the half-hour mark. A couple of minutes later Lewis Adams was called upon to save Davies’ long-range effort.

Davies had another effort from 25 yards out but that flew over the bar. Approaching half-time, Adam Price tried his luck with a long range shot that also cleared the bar.

The second half started poorly for the home side, Davies was played in and as he tried to round Adams inside the box, he was pulled down leaving the referee with no choice but to award a penalty. Davies duly sent Adams the wrong way to give the visitors the lead.

Going behind sparked the Swans into life, Will Peck, on the left, crossing the ball to Rhys Sarson in the middle whose effort was well saved by Phillips. A minute later an identical move saw Sarson strike hit the top of the bar from 20 yards out as the home side dominated the play.

On 70 minutes a great team move from Slimbridge saw Mike Ford’s shot go over the bar from just outside the box. Substitute Dan King fired in a dangerous low cross from the right, but Phillips managed to collect before a blue shirt got close.

With time running out and Slimbridge pushing forward, Rex Mannings was played in, just inside the box and slotted home past Adams from close range.

The move of the game saw the Swans pull a goal back in the 90th minute, Peck cutting in from the left played a one-two with Myron Turner before knocking a back heel through a defenders legs to find Sarson in space to tuck the ball past Phillips into the corner of the net.

Another tough game for the Swans next Saturday with a trip down to Somerset to face high-flying Paulton Rovers.

Slimbridge: Adams, Nesbeth (Martin 87), Peck, Ford, White, Chambers, Thomas (King 79), Price (Horrell 67), Sarson, M Turner, Wanjau-Smith

Subs not used: C Turner, Spruce

Attendance: 102

Supporters’ star man: Joel White.