With both sides shuffling their packs, Ciren included local football legend Kevin Sawyer in goal, and, after a fast start, took the lead with just six minutes on the clock, when a Free Kick into the Swans box was guided home by Nick Peare to put the visitors ahead. 

Zack Kotwica and Peare again had good chances before Slimbridge got themselves into the game, and Jamie Martin on Don Ogbeifun both went close before the half as the Swans fought back.

The second half and the game turned on four second half minutes – firstly, with twenty minutes left, a cross into the Ciren box saw Jamie Martin, and then Ben McLean fail to convert a very dangerous chance without any luck, and Ciren went up the other end and punished the Swan ruthlessly. 

Within a minute, Levi Irvine was left in space to double the visitors lead, and two minutes later, Ross Gabriel added a third to kill off the game as a contest. 

Gabriel recorded his second with ten minutes to go, and Cirencester went on to meet Yate Town in the Final.

Slimbridge Manager Tom Speers was disappointed, but pragmatic after the game – ‘Slightly disappointed, first of all, a sloppy goal to give away, and I think we got ourselves into the game, for a good 60-65 minutes, we were in the game, massive chance missed at this end, and then a minute later they score their second, but they deserved the win – they’re a good team – and we battled well and just I said to the lads here – we’ve got to a Semi-Final- It’s the worst one to lose isn’t it? 

So the boys are really disappointed, but again, if you look at it outside of emotion – if you go back to the Willand game, since their application has been superb, for 60-65 minutes we competed, we dug in hard. I was proud of the way we competed, it’s just unfortunate we fell a little bit short at the end.’

Looking forward to Saturday’s League encounter with Paulton Rovers at Thornhill Park, Speers was looking forward to the occasion – ‘they are one of the teams that I said earlier in the week had given us a hiding, so I’m looking forward to that – we had four or five players missing today – Edji (Mbunga), Myron (Turner), Hawsey (Will Hawes), so it’ll be nice to get some of them back and into the squad – I’m looking forward to Saturday, then Wednesday and then Saturday, we’ve got three home games on the spin, and we’ve been quite good here, we’ve got a little pride back at being here at Thornhill Park. 

We’ll be disappointed tonight, and then we’ll go again tomorrow..’

Team: Adams, Ford, Tomlin, McLean, Dennis, Lawrence, Yeo, Ogbeifun, Martin, Ahmed (Harper 68), Thomas

Supporters Man Of The Match: Toby Lawrence

The Swans now fix their attention on League action, starting with Saturday’s hosting of Paulton Rovers at Thornhill Park, before two more league home games – Sholing on March 2^nd (7.45pm) followed by Bristol Manor Farm on March 5^th (3.00pm).