SLIMBRIDGE’S lead at the top of the table has been cut down to just a point after they slipped to their first defeat since January at the hands of title rivals Henbury.
The hosts took the game to Slimbridge right from the outset.
A free-kick from Shane Hobbs on ten minutes was well saved by the visitors’ keeper Andrew Radford who had to be at his best as the home side continuously pushed forward.
On 20 minutes a cross from Adam Rosser looked as though it had deceived Radford but the ball landed on the roof of the net.
In the first attack by the visitors, home keeper Winkler just managed to fist the ball away from the incoming Marvyn Roberts - any mistake would have almost certainly led to a goal.
Hobbs, who always looked dangerous when on the ball, created space for a shot from the edge of the box which went just wide of the upright.
The opening goal came in the 37th minute when Hobbs picked up the ball on the right, rounded defender James Inch and fired the ball past Radford from just inside the box.
Minutes later Henbury’s Eddie Howells was unlucky with a shot that just went wide of the upright.
The home side should have increased their lead five minutes before the break when a break down the right was brilliantly squared back for George Watts but the youngster blasted the ball over from six yards.
Slimbridge started the second half more confidently and the Henbury defence had to be resolute.
The visitors should have equalised in the 52nd minute when Jamie Martin was clear on goal but Henbury’s keeper Mark Winkler pulled off a tremendous save.
The home side’s defence then cleared another goal mouth scramble to deny the visitors getting on level terms.
After Henbury had weathered the storm, they broke into the Slimbridge half, Aaron Wilson’s shot was well saved by Radford. The rebound fell to Hobbs and the keeper scrambled across the goal to bring off another great save to deny the striker.
Henbury sealed the points in the 86th minute when a break down the right saw Eddie Howells’ angled shot fly past the keeper.
Minutes later a break down the left by Wilson found Hobbs just on the edge of the box and the leading goalscorer saw his chip beat the keeper but just cleared the bar.
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