GLS Hellenic Premier Slimbridge 2 Ardley United 0

LATE goals from Matt Green and Mike Symons finally unlocked a tight defensively minded Ardley United at Wisloe Road.

With Andy Pritchett not having recovered from a knock obtained at Fairford Town in midweek, Leon Sterling led Slimbridge to victory in a game that was short on goalmouth action, due mainly to the Ardley tactic of using an offside trap that extended almost to the half-way line on occasion.

This congested the midfield to the point of frustrating the home side, who had to remain alert to long dead-ball free-kicks breaking their own defensive concentration. Admirably, Sterling, Jamie Inch and James Darby were in commanding form in dealing with the problem, although on 17 minutes Mikkel Hackett did get free but a brilliant saving recovery tackle from Inch denied a shot at Ryan Chandler from barely 12 yards.

The home side were frequently caught offside in a first half that never really got going for them, although Steve Badham and Fred Ward did a lot of running down the wings to try and stretch the Ardley defence, which in fairness, never faltered and what crosses came over were easily repelled, with Martin Hall and Neil Barrett excelling for the visitors.

Towards the interval, Ryan McCullach hit the Slimbridge side netting from an acute angled drive that may have caused a problem had the shot been on target, after a rare corner from the visitors.

The second half saw Slimbridge vary their attacking options and caused the Ardley defence to waver from their regimental offside trap routine, which ultimately set up a good last quarter for the hosts.

Ward wriggled through from the right and brought the first serious save of the match from Ardley goalkeeper Paul Tassell. A couple of corners came and went for Slimbridge before Symons hooked over the bar and then shot straight at Tassell when well placed.

At the other end the tall John Curtis couldn't quite get over an in-swinging free kick into the home area before on the break, Craig Cole broke down the left but shot narrowly wide of Tassell's far post.

Much to their relief, Slimbridge broke the deadlock on 74 minutes with Inch making a telling run from his own half, going past three players, riding a fourth and negating the claustrophobic off side trap at the same time, he slipped the ball to Matt Green to side foot into an empty net with the visitors appealing in vain for offside yet again, but for the first time being denied.

This forced Ardley to throw men forward in an attempt to level the score line but with gaps appearing in a previously congested midfield, Slimbridge got their passing game to start functioning for the first time in the game.

Retaining good possession and with the visitors overstretching, the match was sealed seven minutes from time. Symons netted from close range, a reward for a hardworking afternoon for the young striker.

A strange game that perhaps owed more to a chess board than a football pitch, but Slimbridge did not allow themselves to become frustrated by the Ardley tactics of denying space and time on the ball, but it was a close call which, on another day, may well have succeeded, but it was not pretty to watch. These are worrying times for the North Oxfordshire side, who may yet be dragged into a relegation dog fight.

At this stage of the season, it was another three valuable points for Slimbridge and a fourth clean sheet in a row since John Evans took over as caretaker manager and ten points out of a possible 12.

l Tomorrow Slimbridge travel to Wootton Bassett Town (kick-off 3pm) whom they beat 3-1 in the reverse Hellenic Premier fixture at Wisloe Road last October. In the same month Slimbridge travelled to the Wiltshire side for a floodlit cup first round game and came away with a 3-2 win.

Town now find themselves in trouble near the foot of the table and scrapping for every point in an effort to avoid the drop. It's sure to be a difficult game for Slimbridge as away games in late season at relegation threatened clubs usually are.

On Tuesday Slimbridge will host Chipping Norton Town in a rearranged Hellenic Premier fixture, kick-off 7.30pm. This match has been brought forward from the previously scheduled April 12 due to Chipping Norton's progress in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup competition.