Slimbridge and Sholing will need to do it all over again on Tuesday night to earn the right to visit Chippenham Town in the Second Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Despite the scoreline, both sides had good chances to nick the tie, which took on a totally different narrative to Sholing’s visit on the season’s opening weekend, when the visitors claimed a victory. 

Slimbridge made the better start, and after Ethan Dunbar had set up Marley Thomas, Sholing Keeper Ryan Gosney made a good stop to keep the hosts out. 

On 13 minutes, the Swans had a golden opportunity to get onto the scoresheet, when Thomas’ shot was handled in the Sholing box, but Ben Hands dragged his penalty wide of Gosney’s left post. 

Slimbridge continued to press, and James Sunley and Nathan Dennis both had efforts before Sholing’s first effort on goal, which took 22 minutes to arrive – Dan Mason’s effort forcing Lewis Adams into action in the Swans’ goal.

Still Slimbridge pressed, and Dunbar produced a good save from Gosney, while Thomas and Dunbar combined well to set up Edji Mbunga, whose effort was well covered by Sholing Captain Dan Miller. 

At the tail end of the first half, Sholing began to create more chances, and after Fatah Makholufi’s effort went into the side netting, Thomas cleared the ball off the Slimbridge goalline from Owen Roundell’s header. 

The second half followed the flow of the first – Makholufi brought a save from Swans’ Keeper Lewis Adams, while Sunley had a good effort saved at the other end. 

On 67 minutes, Mbunga’s header from a corner drifter wide, and ten minutes later, Conor Whiteley hit the post for Sholing as the game continued to ebb and flow. 

In the dying seconds of normal time, Adams made two great stops from Makholufi and Miller, before Dunbar had a glorious opportunity to win the game the in stoppage time, but was denied by a superb block from Miller, to send the game to a replay. 

Slimbridge Manager Tom Speers was proud but frustrated at the final whistle – ‘I thought the boys were excellent today – I can’t help but feel disappointed – missing the penalty, and the most glaring opportunity at the end with Ethan, but again, I’s those little fine margins that other teams are taking against us, and we’re not taking against them. 

But overall, I thought the boys were excellent, they were playing a team of men, they’re big, they’re physical, they’re strong, they’re fit, they’ve been together for so long, and to match them everywhere over the park, and to actually better them in some areas was pleasing. 

I don’t think they had their best day, but then we didn’t allow them to have their best day, and for the first time this season, we started really well. There was good intensity, and we got at them, I just don’t think they ever recovered. 

Both teams had quite a few chances, and both keepers made some good saves, but I’m pleased with the performance, but gutted we didn’t get the win. We’ll go down there Tuesday, and they will not look forward to playing us after today.’

Speers also paid tribute to Jack Holmes, who has joined the club on loan from Weston-Super-Mare – ‘It’s nice to have him back – it was really disappointing to lose him last game of pre-season last year, but we know exactly what Jack’s all about – he’s a top top boy, and he’s exactly the kind of lad we want around the club, because he’s going to make us better. 

You saw that today when he came on, he drives from midfield, and he’s got a good engine, so we’ll get some minutes into him, and hopefully we’ll get some good performances out of him.’

Team: Adams, Geddes, Lawrence, Turner, Dennis, Hands (Holmes 57), Bevan Shutt 57), Sunley, Mbunga, Dunbar, Thomas (Barnes 80)

Supporters Man Of The Match; James Sunley