SLIMBRIDGE will almost certainly be playing in Hellenic Division One West next season as they did just enough to beat Henbury, while title rivals Kings Stanley and Ellwood both lost. James Cole’s men are nine points clear with three games to play but as their goal difference is +16 on second placed Ellwood it is fairly safe to say that they will be crowned County League champions. Their ground also passed inspection this week meaning they can now prepare for life in the division above. The Swans were far from their best in their 2-0 victory over Henbury but Marc Roffe came off the bench to score on 72 minutes and Dennis Hylton secured the three points seven minutes later. In an uninspiring first half, Slimbridge looked the more threatening without seriously testing Henbury’s goalkeeper, with most chances falling to Jamie Martin. The winger headed wide from Steve Badham’s cross on 13 minutes and dragged wide from 15 yards seven minutes later after Fred Ward’s persistence presented an opportunity. The only time Slimbridge worked Craig Hobbs in goal was when Hylton headed Badham’s corner straight at him and the stopper unconvincingly palmed the ball away. Another Martin effort went over when he opted to try and lob the goalkeeper after Badham’s through ball before Badham himself volleyed wide from a tight angle. The roles reversed in the second half as Henbury started the far brighter side and Shane Hobbs had two good chances in the opening 11 minutes. Firstly, he shot over from 15 yards after a quick break and Aaron Wilson’s dangerous low cross and then he shot wide when well placed after Eddie Howells drifted a ball into the box. On 65 minutes Swans goalkeeper Ryan Chandler was called into action and he opted to kick clear George Watts’ tame shot from ten yards after Jermaine Wright’s neat flick-on. Howells fired over from about eight yards after the ball fell to him from the resultant corner. A tactical switch from 4-4-3 to 4-4-2 seemed to do the trick for Slimbridge with substitute Roffe putting them ahead. After a long ball forward Hylton used his strength to shrug off Jack Collins and, as the referee ignored the visitors’ pleas for shirt pulling, the striker laid the ball off to Roffe whose shot slipped through the goalkeeper’s hands and trickled into the net. The game was settled when Craig Hobbs rushed off his line to a through ball, Wilton flicked the ball over the top of him and into the path of Hylton, whose shot from 12 yards went in off the post. Slimbridge: Chandler (Radford, 87), Sterling, Wellon, Inch, Preece, Martin (Roffe, 57), C Cole ©, Ward, Hylton, Badham (J Cole, 89), Wilton. Sub not used: Roberts. Gazette star man: Steve Badham.
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