Slimbridge 1-2 Winchester City

SLIMBRIDGE returned to action for the first time in three weeks to produce a fighting display at promotion-chasing Winchester City, writes Rob Peck.

With five games to play in 14 days, boss Lee Driver-Dickerson made a number of changes. Will Hawes made the starting line-up for his first game since July after returning from Australia, Christien Turner, Jack Horrell and James Spruce also returned to the side along with Joe Wright taking the gloves with Lewis Adams rested.

Winchester that took the lead after 12 minutes when a ball sent in from the left found striker Oliver Bailey who controlled the ball and slotted it past Wright.

A couple of minutes later Slimbridge had a flurry of corners. Horrell and Hawes having shots cleared before Will Peck headed wide of the goal.

Just on the half-hour mark, Sol Wanjau-Smith forced a save out of Ryan Pryce in the visiting goal.

Winchester should have made it two on 37 minutes, Bailey escaping the offside trap, but fired his shot into the side netting with only Wright to beat. Hawes did well down the left flank beating a defender before his cross into the box was cut out for a corner which Spruce headed over.

In first-half injury time Christien Turner made an important tackle on Bailey.

Early in the second-half a good chance to pull the scores level went begging when an unmarked Spruce failed to get his head to Pecks cross from the left.

A free-kick on the right of the Winchester box on 56 minutes was chipped into the box, but cleared to just outside the box.

The second free-kick was fired towards the top left corner by Wanjau-Smith, but was tipped over the bar by the acrobatic Pryce from 25 yards out.

A second goal came for the visitors on 65 minutes. Kieran Douglas headed home from a corner. Five minutes later Pryce did well to tip Peck's long range shot over the bar.

For the last 15 minutes, Slimbridge were camped in the Winchester half looking at trying to salvage something from the game having brought on all three substitutes. With 4 minutes remaining Marley Thomas made a lively run across midfield to find Myron Turner in space on the left. Turner fired in a pin point cross to Hawes who controlled the ball well and fired it past Pryce into the net to give the Swans a chance.

Slimbridge travel to Larkhall Athletic on Tuesday and travel to Willand Rovers on Saturday.

Slimbridge: Wright, Nesbeth, Peck, Ford (Price 73), Chambers, C Turner, Spruce (Thomas 73), M Turner, Hawes, Horrell (King 73), Wanjau-Smith

Unused subs: Brennan, Sarson

Supporters' man of the match: Christien Turner

Attendance: 73