In a thrilling Bank Holiday game at Thornhill Park, the Swans were fortunate to snatch a late point after costly mistakes in defence almost gifted Cinderford Town their first win of the season.

Toby Lawrence continued at right back with Ben Deakin still carrying a knock. Marley Thomas returned to the side replacing Jamie Martin who suffered an injury at Frome and Adam Price starting his first game of the season with Mike Ford dropping to the bench.

The game started off at a pace, Lewis Adams tipping Cambden Duncan’s shot over the bar in the first minute.  At the other end, a cross from the left found Will Hawes in space his low shot deflected over keeper Max Harris and into the net to give the home side an early lead.

The Swans continued to pile pressure on the Cinderford defence, Edji Mbunga missing Ben Prictor’s cross from the left.  Moments later Johan Flo fed a pass through the middle to Adam Price, but his shot failed to hit the target.

On 22 minutes Zac Drew found space on the right and forced another save out of Adams tipping the ball over the bar.  Ben McLean’s attempted clearance from the corner struck the post and with the ball being scrambled clear.

Toby Lawrence in a rare foray forward played in Price whose fierce shot was tipped over by Harris, Nathan Dennis heading the resultant corner wide at the back post.

As the half came to an end Lawrence blocked a visitors shot from which Slimbridge broke through Mbunga.  A through pass found Hawes and at the end of a 30 yard run hit his shot over the bar with just Harris to beat.

The home side continued to pile on the pressure early in the second half, Hawes having a shot blocked from Mbunga’s cross and Marley Thomas crossing into Mbunga but his header fell wide.

On 51 minutes Drew intercepted Ben Hands back pass to Adams allowing him to round Adams and tuck the ball away to bring the scores level.  Eight minutes later the visitors took advantage again when a long ball over the defence found Ben Brookes in space and with Adams off his line chipped the keeper to give the visitors the lead.

The Swans got back level a matter of minutes later, Thomas firing a pin point cross from the left for Price to head home off the inside of the far post.  Moments later at the other end a Cinderford cross was headed off the line by Dennis.

Slimbridge now piling the pressure on the visitors with Lawrence down the right finding substitute Jordan Annear who fired across goal with Thomas firing wide at the far post.

On 75 minutes Thomas forced a save from Harris after collecting Mbunga’s cross from the right.  With four minutes left Duncan’s 30 yard shot fell kindly for Adams. Flo then forced a save from Harris pushing his shot around the post.

Another costly mistake by the Swans defence on 88 minutes saw Drew round Adams and tuck the ball into an empty net for what appeared to be a winner for the visitors.

The home side had other idea’s 3 minutes into injury time a Prictor cross found Annear who’s point blank header was initially saved by Harris.  Myron Turner however was in the right position to collect the rebound and riffle the ball into the net to give the home side a share of the points. 

The Swans continue a run of home games with the return of Winchester City in a rearranged fixture that was originally abandoned due to floodlight failure.  Friday night sees the reserves face Longlevens development side at home with a 7:45pm kick off.

Slimbridge: L Adams, T Lawrence, B Prictor, B McLean, B Hands, N Dennis, E Mbunga, A Price, W Hawes, J Flow, M Thomas

Subs Used: J Annear, M Turner, M Ford

Attendance: 181

Supporters player of the match: Ben McLean