The Swans went down to their first defeat of the season at Ascot United yesterday afternoon. Swans Keeper Dave Evans was sent off as goals from Bennett, Page and McIntyre for the home side trumped goals from Danny Chandler and Leon Cornwall for the visitors.

The Swans next fixture is now away at Thame in the FA Vase on Saturday, due to the postponement of tomorrow home game against Shortwood, as announced on this site yesterday.

Due to Shortwood's draw in the FA Cup last night at Totton & Eling, which requires a replay on Tusday night, the FA Cup has taken precendence over the Hellenic League, and therefore Monday's game at Wisloe Road has been postponed. A new date will be announced for the tie.

All at Slimbridge would like to apologies for this late cancellation, which, as you can see, is due to circumstances beyond our control. Guess we'll see you all at the Berkeley Fair instead!

The Swans continued their barnstorm start to the new season with a victory this evening at Pegasus Juniors. Other results mean that Slimbridge have opened up a 4 point lead at the top of the Uhlsport Hellenic Premier League, although some of their rivals continue to have games in hand on the leaders.

Slimbridge took the lead on 39 minutes, with Lewis Wilton netting his first competitive goal of the season, and they held their lead until the hour, when Tom Speers turned the ball into his own net to level the scores.

Danny Chandler put the Swans back in front on 75 minutes, and Ross Langworthy wrapped up the points in the last few minutes with The Swans' third.

The Swans travel to Ascot United on Saturday for another League encounter before entertaining Shortwood United at Wisloe Road on Bank Holiday Monday, Kick Off 3.00pm.

Slimbridge travelled to Bracknell for the second week running and won an exciting game in the last minute with a header from Joe Tustain. The result took the Swans to the top of the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division whilst other teams are busy with the FA Cup.

Bracknell started strongly and the visitors again took a little time to find a foothold in the game. After 9 minutes, however, a good cross from the right by Mike Bryant was met by Paul Carter who volleyed narrowly past the far post. A couple of minutes later Tillson in the home goal made a good save when one-on-one with Tustain. The new central defensive partnership of Rob Hine and Tom Speers looked solid early on and both had chances to score with headers from corners as Slimbridge began to dominate. This pressure told after 27 minutes when Marv Roberts ran on to a pass from Carter and held off the defender to hammer home from 15 yards.

Roberts was again instrumental too in the second goal on 35 minutes when he was hauled to the ground in the penalty area. Assistant Manager Fred Ward confidently slotted home the resulting spot kick. Bracknell were struggling to come to terms with the strength of the visitors in the latter stages of the first half and Roberts, Carter and Speers all had chances to increase the lead before the interval.

Dave Evans was forced to punch clear early in the second half as the home side threw everything forward and they were thrown a lifeline when the Robins were awarded a penalty in the 80th minute following a seemingly innocuous challenge from Hine. Rob Yorke-Goldney sent Evans the wrong way and this was the green light for a period of intense pressure as Bracknell went searching for an equaliser. The Swans were struggling to find rhythm again but seemed to have regained control following the introduction of the pacy Danny Chandler following an injury to Roberts. A number of chances went begging as Slimbridge tried to kill the game off but with four minutes to go the ball fell to Yorke-Goldney who curled an impressive shot into the top corner to level the scores.

Neither side seemed content to settle for a point and in the 90th minute a corner on the left from Carter was headed back across goal by Speers and Tustain headed powerfully into the net amid protests from the home bench for offside. A rash challenge from Liam Woolley reduced Bracknell to ten men as the game went into injury time but Slimbridge held on well to bring another well-deserved result back from back from Larges Lane.

A difficult week ahead for the Swans as they travel to Hereford to play Pegasus Juniors on Tuesday night and another long journey to Ascot United on Saturday. Local rivals Shortwood United make the short journey to Wisloe Road on Bank Holiday Monday for an eagerly anticipated local derby.

Team: Evans,Sterling,Wellon,Hine,Speers,Wood,Bryant,Ward,Roberts(capt),Tustain,Carter.
Subs: Chandler (for Roberts),Wilton (for Carter), Workman.

The Swans moved to second place in the the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division with a 2-0 victory over Shrivenham at Wisloe Road this evening. After a dour first 45 minutes, two goals in 5 minutes from Joe Tustain put Slimbridge in charge, and the striker was denied a Hat Trick in the final minute when his penalty was well saved by Shrivenham Keeper Daryl Simms.

Manager Leon Sterling brought himself into the side that had drawn at Wokingham and Emmbrook, with Assistant Manager Freddy Ward dropping to the bench. Jamie Inch returned to the side as Captain, replacing Richard Workman, and Rob Hine, Marvin Roberts and Ben Wood were replaced with Tom Cole, Micky Bryant and Adam Philp as Sterling made use of his squad.

The game quickly developed into a stalemate, with neither side able to put their opponents under pressure - The Visitor's best effort came early - Anthony Packer firing over the bar after a good run on five minutes. Slimbridge hit back with a sweeping move from left to tight involving Will Wellon, Tustain and Paul Carter, whose probing cross was put behind for a corner which came to nothing. Jamie Inch was his usual dependable self, and some good work from him set Carter up with a good chance on 32 minutes, but his shot was saved by Simms.

Shrivenham had two chances to register on the scoresheet before half time - on 43 minutes, Rory Sproul made space for himself by turning Sterling in the box, but then saw his shot loft over the bar, and just before the break, following a clearance from Swans' Keeper Dave Evans, Michael Lawson tried a first time effort from just inside the Slimbridge half which drifted wide of the goal with Evans struggling to get back. The Swans replied with a surging run from Philp, who appeared to be barged off the ball in the box. Referee Benin, who had a very impressive evening, was having none of it, and waved away the home side's appeals for a penalty.

Slimbridge started the second half at a completely different tempo, and were soon looking far more dangerous. There were further shouts for penalties early in the second half, as a Tom Speers header was blocked in the box on 50 minutes. The Swans felt there may be an element of handball, but Mr Benin waved away the appeals. A minute later, neat work from Sterling saw him play in Philp, who seemed to be pulled down in the box, but again, the referee ruled the challenge fair.

On 57 minutes, the tiring Philp was replaced by Marvin Roberts, and his presence had an instant impact on the home side, as he contributed to a lovely move involving Lewis Wilton and Carter, which resulted in Tustain shooting wide when well placed. Tustain and Wilton were again involved 2 minutes later, when they created the space for a Tom Cole cross which was cleared by an under pressure Shrivenham defence.

On 61 minutes, Slimbridge made the breakthrough their second half performance deserved, when another well worked flowing move involving Bryant and Tustain made space for Tustain to net in the corner past Simms, who was well beaten by the Striker's effort.

Shrivenham replied with another good effort from Sproul, who was causing Sterling some problems, but his shot on the turn went just wide on 65 minutes. The Swans broke at the other end, and Wilton played a ball wide left to find Tustain. His cross in the box was missed by everyone, and with Keeper Simms distracted by the presence of Carter, it ended up in the back of the net to double the Swans' advantage.

The second goal killed the game off, and although Roberts and Wilton both had opportunities to increase the lead, it was not until the 90th minute when, following a foul on Wilton in the penalty area, Tustain was given the chance to complete his hat trick. His powerful penalty was very well saved by Simms to deny the Slimbridge man his third goal.

The Swans now face three away games on the bounce, at Bracknell Town (Saturday 21st, 3pm), Pegasus Juniors (Wednesday 24th, 7.45pm) and Ascot United (Saturday 28th, 3pm) before they return to Wisloe Road on August Bank Holiday Monday, entertaining Shortwood United (Monday 30th, 3pm).

Team: Evans, Sterling, Wellon, Speers, Inch, Cole, Carter (Ward 66), Bryant, Tustain, Philp (Roberts 57), Wilton

Goals: Tustain (61, 66)

Slimbridge emerged with a draw in a close game against fellow newcomers to the Premier Division Wokingham and Emmbrook on Saturday. In the first of two consecutive Saturday visits to Bracknell Town’s ground at Larges Lane the visitors got a further taste of the tougher challenge they face this season.

The home side nearly went behind in the sixth minute when Dave Evans’ crossbar was rattled twice in succession as Slimbridge struggled to get into gear. Defenders were forced to soak up pressure and intense rain and both sides were guilty of giving away possession as they fought to gain the initiative. On half an hour a low corner from Paul Carter was volleyed wide by Lewis Wilton as the Swans threatened for the first time. It was Wokingham who went ahead shortly after when a slick move on the left hand side left Shane Cooper-Clarke with just Evans to beat and he coolly slotted the ball into the corner of the net.

Slimbridge responded well with Rob Hine and Marve Roberts having chances either side of the half time interval. In the 48th minute a cross from Freddie Ward was met by Roberts but his header lacked any real pace to trouble the home keeper. Clear cut chances were a rarity but Slimbridge began to dominate and manager Leon Sterling introduced fresh legs in the shape of Adam Philp and Mike Bryant.

It was Bryant in fact, continuing the early season promise, who headed another cross from the superb Ward back across goal where the unfortunate Hopper could not avoid heading into his own net with ten minutes to go.

Both sides had a late chance to win the game but in truth a draw was a fair result in a close contest.

Team: Evans,Ward,Wellon,Speers,Workman,Hine,Carter,Wood,Roberts,Tustain,Wilton. Subs used: Philp,Bryant.

The League has announced the next set of fixtures for November and December.

6th November - Reading Town A
13th November - Flackwell Heath A
20th November - Reading Town H
4th December - Shrivenham A
11th December - Wootton Bassett A 18th December - Wokingham & Emmbrook H
27th December - Carterton H

New Swans’ Boss Leon Sterling began his competitive managerial career with a 2-1 victory over Highworth Town at Wisloe Road last night, in Slimbridge’s first game back in the Uhlsport Hellenic Premier League.

First half goals from Micky Bryant, who joined the club in the Summer from Berkeley Town, and Joe Tustain put the Swans in the driving seat, but a determined second half comeback from Highworth could only produce a single goal response, from Ritchie Saunders, as Slimbridge held on to nick the points.

Bryant was the only new face in the Swans line up, with Sterling retaining the majority of the players who secured promotion last term, and he would have been delighted with his sides opening to the game.

Highworth were immediately under pressure as a the Swans came out of the blocks looking very lively, and it only took four minutes to the home side to take the lead – Bryant controlled the ball neatly in the Highworth box, and lobbed Keeper Kurtis Sharkey for a sweet finish.

The tempo from the home side was maintained as both Lewis Wilton and Joe Tustain had chances early on to increase the lead, but Highworth held on and began to get themselves back in the game.

Slimbridge were still playing some very attractive football and a neat move involving Paul Carter, Fred Ward and Tustain saw some good Highworth defending block Tustain’s effort on 22 minutes.

The visitors spurned a gilt-edged change to pull level in the 26th minute, when a Tony Joyce free kick into the Slimbridge box was headed wide by Ritchie Saunders, who had been left in acres of space by the Swans’ defence. Four minutes later, Danny Hilder’ s cross found Highworth Captain Tom Cole in a similar position, and again, his header flashed wide of Dave Evans’ post for a goal kick with the goal at his mercy.

The misses were to prove costly for Highworth - After Adam Philp and Wilton had both had close range efforts blocked in the box, the Swans doubled their advantage on 32 minutes. Philp made room for a probing cross from the left, and Tustain reached the ball ahead of Keeper Sharkey, taking it past him and blasting into the empty net.

Slimbridge continued to press, and Wilton should have got his name on the scoresheet when he blasted the ball over the bar 2 minutes before the interval with only the Keeper to beat. Just before Half Time Bryant also came close, shooting wide after a good break from Tustain.

As the send half progressed, the visitors came more into the game as Slimbridge sat back on their lead, and Highworth began to look the more dangerous side. The impressive Saunders was causing problems for the Swans' back line, and missed another good chance to pull a goal back on 61 minutes, when another headed drifted just wide of the post. However, in the 64th minute, he finally got the reward his performance deserved, slotting home from close range following the ball running free after a good save from Dave Evans.

Highworth continued to press, but couldn't make the breakthrough, as Slimbridge failed repeated to get back on the front foot clearing from defence.

The home side should have wrapped the game up with ten minutes when a through ball from Tustain found Roberts in on goal, and he appeared to be pulled down by Sharkey as he went to shoot. Referee Roskelly, however, felt there was no foul and gave a goal kick to the visitors. At the other end, Steve Robertson had a great chance to equalise in the last minute, but was thwarted by a stunning tackle from Rob Hine, who took the ball off Robertson's feet without fouling him 12 yards out.

On Saturday, Slimbridge travel to Wokingham and Emmbrook (3pm) before returning to Wisloe Road on Wednesday August 18th when they host Shrivenham in another League fixture (7.45pm)

Team: Evans, Cornwall, Cole, Inch, Wellon, Ward, Carter (Hine 73), Bryant (Roberts 67), Philp (Wood 67), Tustain, Wilton

Goals: Bryant (4), Tustain (32)