Slimbridge 3 Witney United 0
SLIMBRIDGE overcame a battling Witney United at a windswept Wisloe Road on Saturday to complete a Hellenic Premier double with goals from Matt Green, Michael Symons, on his home debut, and Craig Cole.
United started brightly with James Blastland and in turn Tom Dingle firing wide after good build-up play and when Jon Embling heroically threw himself in front of a Mitch Wyatt effort, diverted wide from eight years, the home side looked to be struggling.
Things got worse for Slimbridge when midfielder Mike Green had to limp off after only 16 minutes but they were then turned around after Matt Green and then Julian Freeman went close, a passage of play that heralded a period of attacking pressure.
The lead was gained on 32 minutes when a 25-yard free-kick almost in front of goal was hit with venomous speed by Rich Moore and startled goalkeeper Sean Purcell could only parry back for the alert Green to sweep into the net.
Pressure was maintained and as the interval approached, Symons was put away down the left by Green to sweep a cross to the far post where James Ackland shot narrowly over.
The second half saw United press and a low drive from John McMahon saw Ryan Chandler move quickly down to save. Freeman became the second Slimbridge casualty of the afternoon, departing with a cut to his heel, but play then settled in the still blustery conditions until on 56 minutes, when the Slimbridge lead doubled.
Some delightful running and shimmying from Cole, bursting through a packed midfield, set up Symons, the former Barnstaple and Bideford Town striker, to go one-on-one with Purcell and coolly sidefoot in for a class finish.
It was becoming evident that some forceful midfield battling from Moore, Green and Evans in particular was having an affect on a tiring United and on 62 minutes the third Slimbridge goal arrived.
A free-kick from near halfway into the box from skipper Andy Pritchett saw the United defence fail to clear and Cole was quick to slot home from some eight yards.
United belatedly rallied with Chris Lang driving just wide and Dingle forcing a tip over his own bar from Chandler before the game ended with Nick Rieger going close and Symons just wide with a cheeky attempt to chip Purcell.
In the end a comfortable win for Slimbridge to keep their momentum going, but there is now concern at the club over a growing injury list, especially after Leon Sterling limped off near the end.
Slimbridge: R Chandler, L Sterling (N Rieger 75), J Embling, A Pritchett, Mike Green (R Evans 16), R Moore, J Ackland, Matt Green, J Freeman (A Thomas 51), C Cole, M Symons.
L Tomorrow Slimbridge are on the road to North Oxfordshire to visit Ardley United (3pm), a team newly promoted whom they have yet to meet this season.
Ardley started the season poorly, but of recent months have changed managers and gained from an influx of new players and are starting to pick up some good results, so a difficult game is envisaged.
On Tuesday, Slimbridge play Milton United at Wisloe Road (7.45pm). Milton inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Slimbridge on November 9 which, to date, was their last Premier Division defeat, so a keen contest is likely to be the order of the evening in this reverse Premier Division fixture.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article