Simbridge came away from Bashley’s GlenMex Stadium with all three points after a smash and grab raid brought them their first Southern League victory of the season. An Ethan Dunbar goal ultimately decided the contest, after a first half when the visitors were very much under the cosh, but stood firm to go in level at the break. 

Dunbar’s winner in the 69^th minute was scrappy, but as Manager Tom Speers said after the match ‘It was a scruffy goal – they had a few chances in the first half and couldn’t bundle the ball over the line and we bundled ours over. You don’t really mind how it comes, because at the end of the day it’s the result that counts.’

Bashley started very much the better side – making their fourth trip to the South Coast in three weeks, including two midweek cup games that went to either extra time or penalties, the Swans looked sluggish, coming on the back of an FA Trophy trip to AFC Totton on Tuesday. 

However, for all their possession early in the game, the home side were unable to make their domination count – after Ross Lewis had seen his effort blocked by Toby Lawrence on 18 minutes, Slimbridge had the best opportunity to open the scoring, after a sweeping move involving James Sunley and Joe Shutt saw Edji Mbunga’s effort just edge the wrong side of the Bashley Post. 

The Swans began to edge their way into the game – Jacob Geddes had a header saved by Bashley Keeper Ross Casey from Shutt’s Free kick, and then Dunbar’s cross was just too high for Dylan Lewis as the visitors began to create chances of their own. 

Bashley were still looking dangerous though, and Lewis Adams was forced into a good stop on the half hour to keep out Harry McGrath’s header. 

The last few minutes of the half saw more pressure from the hosts – and after Jamie Webber and Liam Farrugia both went close, a massive scramble in the Slimbridge box saw Shutt deflect a goalbound shot onto the post and out to safety. 

There was still time for Adams to make another great save in stoppage time from Jack Smith to ensure that Slimbridge held firm to get to the half. 

Bashley continued to press at the start of the second period, with a dangerous cross from Jack Lovell forcing a good clearance from Geddes, and another effort off target, this one from Webber. 

At the other end, Jack Holmes was off target for the Swans, as it began to look as if a goalless draw was on the cards. 

But, on 69 minutes, the deadlock was broken – Sunley made a good break down the Swans’ left, and his cross found Mbunga on the right of the Bashley goal. As Mbunga tried to get an effort in on goal, the ball fell to Dunbar as a scramble developed in the goalmouth, and he steered the ball past Casey to put the visitors ahead. 

Seven minutes later, Mbunga again went close, as Slimbridge looked to play out the game and claim their victory. 

It was a very tense finish though – with five minutes remaining of normal time, Adams made another superb save, this time from Lyle Simpson’s shot, and the visitors saw out a nervy five minutes of stoppage time to make the long journey back to Gloucestershire with the three points, much to the delight of their officials and fans who had made the trip. 

Manager Tom Speers was understandably delighted with the result. 

‘It feels really good, obviously – winning is winning and it always feels good. First though, credit to Bashley – first half, we were slow and they punished us all over the shop, and if they gone one or two nil up, we couldn’t have argued about it. We were slow to react to things, and credit to Bashley, they were brilliant. 

But second half, on the ball we didn’t improve massively, but we defended a lot better, we were closer to them, and we stopped them playing those diagonal balls that really affected us in the first half. 

Over the last couple of games, we’ve probably deserved more than we got against the Sholings, the Tottons, the Bristol Manor Farms – and today we got something. It’s great to have the first win of the season, it’s a tricky little place to come to, I’m really pleased with the win, but of course the performance can always get better. 

We won’t look back, but as I said to the boys we’ll need to look back at our performance, but again – we’ve played really well for four or five games, and you always have that ‘dip’ game. Today was our ‘dip’ game, and to come away with three points from a ‘dip’ game, against a team that will be in and around us was really important. 

We’re now starting to play the teams that we feel like we want to pick up points against – October and November have games we’ll certainly want to be picking some points up from…’

The Swans’ run of away trips continues next Saturday, when they swap Hampshire for Devon, this time making a trip down the M5 to Willand Rovers (September 24^th, 3.00pm). They then return to Thornhill Park the following Saturday on October 1^st, when they host Exmouth Town. 

Team; Adams, Shutt, Prictor, Turner, Geddes, Lawrence, Dunbar, Sunley (Francis 82), Mbunga, Holmes (Hands 61), Lewis (Bevan 73)

Goal: Ethan Dunbar 69

Supporters’ Man Of The Match: Joe Shutt