Swans continue unbeaten league run

Slimbridge extended their unbeaten league run to four games in an entertaining game against Melksham Town lifting themselves into the playoff places for the first time this season.  Lee Driver-Dickerson made one change from last week where Edji Mbunga returned to the side at the expense of Johan Flo who dropped to the bench.

Melksham started the game brightly when Lewis Adams tipped over Luke Ballingers shot from a corner; Adams confidently claimed the subsequent corner.  The Swans however took the lead on 8 minutes, Jamie Bartlett in the visitors goal pulling off a great save from a Jay Malshanskyj shot from the edge of the box.  The corner was taken short to Dan King his cross from the left fizzed into the box Joel White flicking the ball over Bartlett and into the net.

Five minutes later the Swans attacked down the left, Malshanskyjs cross from the left was initially saved by Bartlett then hooked off the line for a corner.  Bartlett then made another save at the back post as the home side looked dangerous up front.

A hesitation at the back for Slimbridge allowed potent striker Felipe Barcelos to steal the ball and run in and slot the ball past Adams to level the scores after 16 minutes.

Both sides continued to play some good football in poor conditions with the rain heavy at time pouring down.  A spell of pressure around the Melksham box from the home side on the hour mark saw Mike Fords cross find Malshanskyj but his shot has easily gathered by Bartlett.

A few minutes later Ryan Bole tried his luck from distance but Adams was well placed to stop the effort.  Leading up to the halftime break the Swans continued to push forward, Malshanskyj feeding a neat ball through to Mbunga but Bartlett raced out to gather.

Slimbridge took the lead two minutes before the break, Malshanskyj breaking down the left and crossing to Will Hawes to tap home at the far post.

After the break the Swans extended their lead on 49 minutes, Malshanskyjs cross field ball found King on the left.  Beating two defenders on his run into the box unselfishly squaring the ball for Mbunga to run onto and fire into the net. 

A minute later Melksham pulled a goal back, Barcelos with space on the left fired past Adams from 20 yards to keep the visitors in the game.  A worrying moment for the home side 5 minutes later a Melksham free kick on the edge of the box was gathered by Adams under pressure but he took a knock in the process and after treatment was able to carry on.

Despite the weather conditions both sides continues to play some good attacking football, Nick Humphries linking up with King, with Kings effort being saved by Bartlett.  Melksham then had a free kick on the edge of the box deflected over for a corner.

Ford did well just after the hour mark to cut out a dangerous cross into the Swans box with the visitors looking for an equaliser.  Myron Turner fed a ball to Hawes down the left his cross finding King but he ran the ball into touch at the far post.  A minute later Kings cross from the right was blocked and out for a corner from which Ford headed wide.

With less than twenty minutes left King again in space down the right found Hawes inside the box his header going just inches wide.  A couple of minutes later Bartlett denied King with Hawes follow up going wide as the Swans chased a fourth goal.

Heading into the last five minutes of the game substitute Jamie Martin forced a point blank save from Bartlett after getting on the end of a King cross.  The home side were rewarded for the efforts deep in stoppage time, King breaking away down the right with a 40 yard run to square the ball to the unmarked Martin to tap in at the far post.

This weekend the first team travel to basement side Mangotsfield United and the reserves host SC Inkberrow at Thornhill Park.  The development side’s game at home on Sunday has been changed seeing them travel to St Nicholas with a 2pm kick off.

Slimbridge: L Adams, B Deakin, N Humphries, M Ford (J Stokes 70), O Giles, J White, J Malshanskyj, M Turner, W Hawes (J Martin 80), D King, E Mbunga (J Flo 84)

Subs not used: A Hainault, E Dunbar

Goals: White 16, Hawes 45, Mbunga 49, Martin 90+3

Attendance: 126

Supporters man of the match: Jay Malshanskyj