Hellenic League Premier Division

Wootton Bassett Town 0 Slimbridge 2

THE present league leaders returned with a 2-0 success, both goals coming in the first half from Steve Badham and Rich Moore.

By a combination of a very hard pitch and a brisk swirling wind the early play was difficult for both sides and the first shot of the match did not arrive until 13 minutes had gone when Richard Willis fired over the cross bar for the home side.

With both sides looking strong defensively, it took 28 minutes for Slimbridge to take the lead. Badham anticipated his run well to break the Town back line to get on the receiving end of a delicate Bradley Thomas chip and guide wide of Richard Stevens, caught in no man's land.

Thomas, signed earlier in the week after an early season rejection from Gloucester City and after playing for Weston-Super-Mare last season, has not seen much action this season bar a couple of run outs and, although perhaps not at full fitness, had a promising midfield game to justify manager Doug Gray's gamble in playing him from the start.

After the goal, Town rallied and enjoyed their best ten minutes of the match, but Andy Pritchett and his boys stood firm, although one flowing move saw Ben Gascoyne pull a ball back across the penalty area but Neil Bridges' shot went wide.

Slimbridge bounced back again and after Badham volleyed a Ross Casey cross wide from an acute angle, Moore doubled the lead on 40 minutes when he slid the ball in after Stevens fumbled a cross from Badham.

The second half opened with Gary Marshall, returning from injury, on for Badham who had taken a knock prior to the interval. A Ross Casey snapshot signalled a spell of sustained Slimbridge attack and although Julian Freeman and Moore in particular stretched the Town defence, it was in no mood to crack again.

The returning Adam Paul (signed from Shortwood also earlier in the week) was introduced in the later stages when Ross Casey departed with a thigh strain and almost immediately tested Stevens from some 25 yards and had the goalkeeper scrambling, as did Moore a few minutes later.

For the home side Gascoyne nearly got away with nine minutes left but Pritchett got in a good tackle cum clearance.

Almost the final action saw Marshall put in a cross from the left that Stevens came for but was out-jumped by Moore who was unfortunate to see his header drop the wrong side of the post.

An unfussy, confident performance from Slimbridge who were well worth the three points that keeps them ahead of North Leigh on goal difference, but having played two more games.

Slimbridge: R Chandler, L Sterling, J Embling (M Green), A Pritchett, A Thomas, R Moore, E Ward, R Casey (A Paul), J Freeman, B Thomas, S Badham (G Marshall).

l On Saturday Slimbridge travel to Hungerford Town (kick off 3pm); Hungerford are a relatively unknown force in the Hellenic League, as before this season they plied their trade in Ryman Division Two.

Their early season form, however, suggests they could do well and are in the leading pack with games in hand, so an intriguing game is in prospect.

Slimbridge lottery draw for September 27: 13, 18 and 19. No winner. Prize rollover to £750.