Slimbridge progressed to the final of the Bluefin Insurance Challenge Cup with a notable Extra Time victory over the Hellenic Premier League opponents at Wisloe Road last night. The Swans will play either Abingdon or Ardley in the final, on a date to be announced.

The Swans went ahead with a Paul Carter penalty on 20 minutes, and held the lead until the last minute of normal time, when Almondsbury equalised. Rob Hine scored as the end of the first extra period approached, and the Swans held on for the final 15 minutes to record a famous victory.

Wootton Bassett Town ensured that the title race for the Hellenic League West will go down to the wire with a 2-1 victory at home to Slimbridge this afternoon. The result puts Bassett back on top of the Division, a point ahead of the Swans, who still have a game in hand on their rivals, and a better goal difference. Headington Amateurs are still in the mix in third place after their 2-0 win over Cricklade Town, two points behind the Swans having played the same number of games. Purton's title challenge seem to have been ended after a defeat by Letcombe.

With Manager James Cole back at the helm, and Captain Marvyn Roberts on crutches with ankle ligament damage following the game at Trowbridge, this was always going to be a tough tie for the Swans, coming at the end of a week when they were playing their fourth encounter. Cole's team selection saw himself, Shane Anson and Will Wellon replace Freddie Ward, Tom Cole and Mark Pritchett, Ben Wood returned with Ross Langworthy dropping to the bench, and Adam Philp replaced Roberts up front.

Bassett made a furious start to the game, and went in front with just four minutes on the clock. A corner was cleared by Jamie Inch, but the Swans who were out caught by the pace of the opening, allowed the subsequent cross to be headed on by two Bassett men before Jon Hollway hammered home past helpless Swans Keeper Dave Evans to put the home side ahead, and send the vociferous home support into raptures.

Bassett continued to press, and Craig Shand fired over following a free kick in the 12th minutes, as the Swans still struggled to get in the game. Holloway was at the centre of everything good for the home side, and his interaction with Ryan Banes in the 18th minute saw another good chance for the hosts, but Jamie Inch was alert and cleared the danger. Inch found himself under a lot of pressure as Bassett swarmed round the Swans' goal, but acquitted himself well, and made another fine tackle to deny Matt Brown in the 19th minute. Eventually, The Swans settled down a little, and started to create some chances of their own - Philp had a couple of good opportunities, with Liam Edmundson making a superb saving tackle to deny him a shot on goal when he was ideally placed to pull the deficit back.

Following a foul on Wood ten minutes before Halftime, Carter had a good opportunity to cause some damage with a free kick, but a poor effort saw Bassett clear with relative ease. With 5 minutes remaining in the half, an impressive sequence of play involving Tustain, Inch, and Philp brought a good stop from Bassett Keeper Stuart Thompson, but as the half drew to a close, a foul on Philp saw Joe Tustain's shot helped over the bar by Thompson on what was certainly the best Swans' effort of the first period.

Whatever Manager Cole said in the dressing room during the interval certainly had an effect, as Slimbridge came out and equalised almost immediately as the second period started - Joe Tustain striking a very impressive 25 yard volley, which left Thompson clutching thin air. The Swans were heartened by this, and had the next decent opportunity as Wilton played in Philp, who saw the Thompson make a good stop at his feet. However, the hosts fought back, and in with the clock on 55 minutes regained their advantage. As play restarted following the replacement of Manager Cole with Johnny Cant, Shane Anson was caught out by a through ball which somehow evaded him on the Swans left hand side, and left Sam Collier with the opportunity to lob Dave Evans and put Bassett back in front.

As the second half progressed, Bassett were increasingly pinned back in their own half, but the Swans were unable to take advantage of their possession. Carter was replaced with Andy Varnham on 66 minutes, and the extra width created some good opportunities for the visitors, but Bassett defended resolutely. As the game entered the last 15 minutes, Varnham was unable to take advantage of a good chance created by Tustain's free Kick, following a very impressive save from Thompson to deny Vanham.

The Swans continued to press, and with Langworthy replacing Philp with 12 minutes remaining, it seemed only a matter of time before the equaliser arrived - Vanham shot just over, Tustain's rocket just skipped past the post, and Tustain again came close, but Bassett held on to clinch the victory, and ensure that the title is still not cut and dried for any of the top three clubs.

Team: Evans, Anson, J. Cole (Cant 54), Inch, Wellon, Carter (Varnham 65), Wood, Hine, Tustain, Philp (Langworthy 78), Wilton

Goal: Tustain 46

The Swans continued to make progress through their 'Week of death' with another hard fought victory at Trowbridge Town last night. After racing into a 2 goal lead courtesy of goals from Marvyn Roberts and Joe Tustain, Slimbridge sat back in the second half and allowed Trowbridge back into the game, equalising with just under 20 minutes remaining. A further Tustain goal nicked the game for the Swans as the dark descended on Woodmarsh, with the final 15 minutes being played out in a murky gloom. However, Manager for the evening Leon Sterling was delighted with his side, and the collection of another three points, which put the Swans back on top of the Hellenic League West, with games in hand on their rivals. The Swans now move onto Wootton Bassett on Saturday to round off a hectic week of travels.

Sterling made 5 changes to the team that saw off Lydney two days earlier, with 3 changes in the back four - Fred Ward, Tom Cole and Mark Pritchett replacing Shane Anson, Will Wellon and Richard Workman. In midfield, Ben Wood was still recovering from the nasty knock on his head he received at Lydney, so Marvyn Roberts and Paul Carter returned to the line up, with Adam Philp dropping to the bench. The game started slightly late, as one of the linesman failed to show, and a replacement needed to be pressed into action from within the Trowbridge staff.

It was Slimbridge who started quickest, with a shot from Ross Langworthy which just went over the bar following the first corner of the game being the first real action. 6 minutes in, Trowbridge Keeper George Dempsey was in action again, making a neat save to Roberts' goalbound header. However, it only took 12 minutes for The Swans to take the lead - a probing run and cross from Lewis Wilton on the left found Roberts in the penalty box with his back to goal. The Slimbridge Captain turned his man superbly, before rifling home past Dempsey.

Slimbridge continued to push forward, and a couple of minutes later, Langworthy and Joe Tustain fashioned a fine opportunity down the other side of the Trowbridge defence, but Wilton just failed to connect with Tustain's fine cross. However, the Swans pressure told when, with 20 minutes on the clock, they doubled their advantage - following a passage of play which had already seen Dempsey make a brave stop at Tustain's feet, a goalmouth scamble following a Slimbridge corner saw Tustain smashing the ball home from 12 yards.

Trowbridge regrouped, and Evans was forced to make a couragous save diving at the feet of Jamie Dennison as they tried to get back into the game. At the other end, Langworthy was still creating space for himself down the right, and the Swans could have gone further ahead when Tustain turned and shot just wide after 35 minutes.

Trowbridge made a great start to the second half, when a cleverly worked free kick after 48 minutes saw Dave Appleyard hammer the ball past Dave Evans from the edge of the box. Langworthy was looking very tired after the exertions of the previous games, and was replaced by Adam Philp ten minutes onto the second half. The goal had changed the momentum of the game as the hosts became more confident, and Slimbridge were increasingly forced onto the back foot. It was no surprise when Trowbridge drew level in the 72nd minute - A Swans attack had broken down with Roberts being ruled offside, and from the free kick, Trowbridge came straight down the field, and Sam Meredith netted the equaliser past Evans.

As the light faded, both sides to their credit continued to try and play good football, and five minutes after the equaliser, the Swans regained the lead. A diagonal ball from Carter paid dividends as Tustain drew Keeper Dempsey and fired home for the fifth goal of the game. Richard Workman replaced Roberts as Slimbridge shored up their defence for the final 13 minutes, and despite a couple of scares late on, the Swans hung on for a valuable victory.

Team; Evans, Ward, T. Cole, Pritchett, Inch, Hine, Langworthy (Philp 57), carter, Roberts (Workman 77), Tustain, Wilton

Goals: Roberts 12, Tustain 20, 77

The Swans moved to first place in the Hellenic League West this evening with a hard-earned victory at Trowbridge Town. Marvyn Roberts and Joe Tustain's early goals seem to have put Slimbridge in command of the game, but a spirited second half comeback from the hosts saw them pull level, only to see a second Tustain goal nick the points late on. A full report will appear tomorrow.

The date of the Bluefin Insurance Cup Semi-Final at Wisloe Road has been moved to Tuesday April 13th to allow a previously booked Cup Final between Sharpness and Cheltenham Saracens to take place at Wisloe Road on the 15th.

The Swans will host Almondsbury Town at Wisloe Road on Thursday 15th April, Kick Off 7.30pm, in the one legged semi final of the Bluefin Insurance Challenge Cup. The game will be settled on the night, utilising Extra Time and penalties if needed. Ardley United take on Abingdon Town in the other semi final, taking place on the same evening.

The battle for domination at the top of the Hellenic League West took another intriguing turn this afternoon, as the Swans powered into second place with a comprehensive 4-0 victory at Lydney Town, while rivals Purton dropped 2 points in a 1-1 draw at Trowbridge Town. Neither of the other clubs in the mix, Cheltenham Saracens or Wootton Bassett Town played this afternoon, although both have still to meet the Swans as the season draws to its climax. The Swans' comprehensive victory was anchored by two-goal performances from both Ross Langworthy and Adam Philp, to leave the Swans still in a very promising position in the league table, with games in hand on all of their major rivals.

With Manager James Cole away, Assistant Leon Sterling shuffled the pack following Saturday's heroic Challenge Cup display, and with half an eye to two more testing away trips this week. The return of Jamie Inch and Richard Workman to the back four was repaid by very solid impressive performances from both men, while Marvyn Roberts dropping to the bench allowed Sterling to pair Ross Langworthy up front with Adam Philp, the pairing which tormented Lydney all afternoon, and handsomely rewarded his team selection. Joe Tustain also returned to the starting line up with Paul Carter being named amongst the substitutes.

On a pitch which, in places, looked like a badly ploughed field, it was Slimbridge who made the brightest start, although their opponents had the advantage of an additional two days rest after the postponement of their tie at the weekend. With less than ten minutes on the clock, Lewis Wilton had produced brought a good save from Lydney Keeper Chris Forster, Philp had lobbed Forster but seen his effort just drift over the bar, and Forster had reacted well to another Wilton break, taking the ball off his feet as he readied to shoot on goal.

The Swans were exerting a sustained period of pressure on their hosts, and the next opportunity came in the 13th minute, when a superb break by Philp saw his shot bravely saved by Forster, and Tustain foiled by a last ditch tackle as he tried to convert the loose ball in the Lydney box., It was nearly all one way traffic, although Lydney came back when a free kick following a foul by Workman was cleared by Wood after Adam Price's cross.

Slimbridge continued to press, and following a shot from Wood which drifted just past the post, finally took the lead in the 22nd minute. Tustain superbly played in Ross Langorthy with a diagonal ball which split the defence down the Lydney right, and the youngster responded with a superb finish past the helpless Forster to give the Swans the advantage. All over the pitch, the Swans looked dominant - Wellon and Wilton linked up well down the left, Inch and Workman repelled every Lydney foray, and the movement of Tustain, Philp and Langworthy were causing all sorts of problems for the home side. It was no surprise when Slimbridge doubled their advantage on 41 minutes - Langworthy played a lovely ball into space for Philp, and he converted with ease to send the Swans into the break in a comfortable lead.

The second half could not have been more than 30 seconds old when the Swans added another to the scoresheet - A Wood free kick was lofted into the Lydney area, and headed clear to Philp on the edge of the box. He placed his shot perfectly, lofting the ball over the Forster to add his second goal and Slimbridge's third. The Swans' pressure continued, as with Carter on for Hine, another sustained period of pressure saw Tustain eventually hammer the ball into the side netting following another flowing Slimbridge attack. Philp was desperate to secure his hat trick, and he looked to be through on goal on 59 minutes after some deft play from Wilton, but was flagged marginally offside.

Following a collision of heads, Ben Wood had returned to the fray sporting a Terry Butcher bandage, but was clearly struggling, and he was replaced by Marvyn Roberts in the 64th minute. As the game drifted into it's last 15 minutes, Langworthy notched his second of the game following a through ball from Carter which left him one on one with the keeper. Although his initial shot was saved, Langworthy netted the follow up to give the Swans a thoroughly deserved four goal advantage.

Still Slimbridge pressed forward, and Philp had two further chances to secure his third strike. A goalmouth scramble in the 81st minute saw the ball nicked off his feet by Lydney's Tom Shaw, and with four minutes remaining, a superb Langworthy cross was nicked off his head by the diving Marvyn Roberts, who placed the ball wide of the post to the immense frustration of both players.

On Wednesday, Slimbridge travel to Trowbridge Town for another Hellenic League fixture, with the Kick Off for this game moved to 6.30pm. The Swans then travel to Wootton Bassett on Saturday, 3pm Kick Off.

Team: Evans, Anson, Wellon, Workman, Inch, Wood (Roberts 65), Langworthy, Hine (Carter 55), Tustain, Philp, Wilton

Goals: Langworthy 22, 74, Philp 41, 46

Only one Division One West game survived the weather yesterday, with Headington Amateurs recording a 3-0 victory at Tytherington Rocks. The Swans remain in third position in the League with games in hand on all their rivals.

Chairman Keith Sparrow yesterday confirmed that the Club have entered both the FA Cup and FA Vase competitions for next season.

Manager James Cole declared himself 'delighted' by the second half display of his side, which saw The Swans overturn a 2 goal deficit to power their way into the Semi-Final of the Bluefin Insurance Challenge Cup at Wisloe Road this afternoon. Trailing at Half Time to opponents Woodley who fully deserved their advantage at the break, the combination of Cole's inspirational team talk, together with some impressive second half finishing from Rob Hine, Ross Langworthy, Ben Wood and Lewis Wilton saw Slimbridge run out 4-2 winners at the final whistle.

As the 3pm Kick Off time approached, Slimbridge club officials were still furiously sanding the pitch in an attempt to keep the game on, as the heavy rainfall soaked the playing surface at Wisloe Road. To the credit of Referee Andy Davies, he gave the game the go ahead despite the continuing downpour, but with a warning to both sides that the game would be called off immediately if at any point he deemed that the pitch had become too dangerous for the players. His judgement paid dividends as, thankfully, the rain eventually eased during the afternoon and the tie was completed.

Cole made one change to the side which beat Clanfield last weekend, replacing Jamie Inch with Tom Cole and shuffling his back four, although it took the Swans a while to adapt to playing without their ever-reliable central defender. Initially, Slimbridge made the brighter start to the game, as both Marvyn Roberts and Adam Philp just failed to connect with good through balls early on, while at the other end, Dave Evans was called into action and forced into a brave dive at the feet of Woodley Striker Lyle Smith with 11 minutes on the clock. Both teams were struggling to play any kind of football in the conditions, but Woodley certainly had the momentum of the tie as they harried and fought for every ball, allowing Slimbridge no time to play the flowing football they favour, and which has proved so valuable to them this season.

The Swans had the next good chance when Philp headed just wide after a Carter corner was headed back into the box by Roberts on 21 minutes. Woodley Winger Luke Williams was giving Shane Anson a particularly torrid time at the back for Slimbridge, and a good run from Williams a minute later saw Woodley create a good opening from a corner, but fail to take advantage as the chance went begging in the Swans' box. As conditions worsened still further, Woodley again upped the tempo of their game, and began to take control, with the Swans looked increasingly vulnerable.

It was not all one way traffic though - Slimbridge also came close to breaking the deadlock when Woods' shot was blocked following a Carter corner after half an hour, but Woodley held firm and looked solid at the back. However, it was no surprise when two goals in the last ten minutes of the half put the visitors seemingly in control of the tie. Two close range efforts, both of which should have been cleared by the Slimbridge defence, saw Carl Davies (36 minutes) and Luke Williams (42 minutes) send the visitors in with a deserved 2 goal advantage at the break.

The Swans obviously had a strong reminder of their responsibilities during the interval, and started the second half more convincingly. Early in the second half, a Carter freekick saw Rob Hine head just wide of the Woodley goal, but in the 52nd minute, the same combination of players saw The Swans pull a goal back - Carter's corner decisively netted by Hine's powerful header. Following a further series of Slimbridge corners, Woodley broke away and hit back in the 67th minute with a powerful Luke Williams run which was placed just wide of the Swans goal by Tom Williams. As he tried to convert the chance, Williams was involved in a collision with Leon Sterling. Sterling was injured in the challenge and replaced by Ross Langworthy.

Langworthy immediately brought a new dimension to the Swans attacking options, and after Roberts had gone close following a powerful run and shot, a delightful move involving Philp and Roberts saw Langworthy convert Roberts' cross to pull the Swans level after 76 minutes. As both clubs fought to avoid the game progressing into Extra Time, Wilton brought a great save from Woodley Keeper Skinner, while Dave Evans at the other end made an impressive stop to deny Tom Williams, who was still proving very dangerous for the away side.

With 6 minutes remaining, it was the Swans who broke the deadlock - some great interplay between Langworthy and Wood saw Wood place his shot beyond the dive of Skinner, and gave the home side the late advantage. Langworthy wasn't finished though, and capped his fine performance with a run down the left wing, which resulted in him playing a great ball to Lewis Wilton, who found some space in the penalty area. Wilton gleefully netted The Swans' fourth goal as the game entered stoppage time, and capped a fantastic second half comeback for the home side.

Manager James Cole said that he stressed at Half Time how important the next goal was going to be, and he confessed himself delighted with the Players' response to his team talk. Slimbridge's opponents in the Semi Final, and the date of the tie have still to be confirmed. The Swans are scheduled to travel to Lydney Town on Easter Monday (KO 3pm), before making a trip to Trowbridge Town on Wednesday, (KO 7.30pm), ending their week of travels at Wootton Bassett next Saturday (KO 3pm).

Team: Evans, T. Cole (Workman 55), Anson, Sterling (Langworthy 69), Wellon, Carter, Hine, Wood, Roberts, Philp, Wilton

Goals: Hine 52, Langworthy 76, Wood 84, Wilton 89