Slimbridge bounced back in style from their drubbing at the hands of Roman Glass St. George with a late late winner from Romaine Campbell nicking the posts for the Swans in stoppage time at Mangotsfield United. 

Joint Manager Adam Coyle was delighted with the win, saying ‘We owed the club, everybody, the fans, all the loyal people who came on the bus tonight a reaction from Saturday.

But we owed it to ourselves more than anything, because we massively let ourselves down on Saturday. We’ve been a completely different side tonight, and got a really really good three points against a very good side.’

After a first half that never really settled into a pattern, Theo Clayson broke the deadlock three minutes into the second period. A sustained period of pressure from the home side saw Louis Short level things up on 82 minutes, but as the home side pressed for a second, a smash and grab raid from Slimbridge saw Romaine Campbell drill the winner in the fourth minute of what turned out to be ten minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game, to the delight of the travelling Slimbridge contingent.

Neither team really settled in the first half of the game- on six minutes, Nathan Dennis had a header saved by Mangos Keeper Jakob Glover from Will Hawes’ long throw, with the second good opportunity not arriving until 17 minutes, when a carbon copy of Rudi McKinnon’s piledriver on Saturday was ruined by an airshot rather than connection with the ball following a Swans’ corner. 

Hawes and Clayson then combined to set up a couple of opportunities for the visitors, but both were blocked as the Mangos held firm. 

Mangotsfield’ best opportunity of the half came on 35 minutes, when a dangerous cross from Marcus Kelly found no takers in a dangerous position.

The action hotted up in the second period of the game, and it was Slimbridge who started better. Three minutes into the half, a sweeping move involving Ben Hands and Charlie Dashfield, saw Dashfield, who had an impressive debut in midfield, play a superb diagonal behind the Mangotsfield back line to Clayson and he leathered the ball home giving Glover no chance to put the visitors ahead. 

On 64 minutes, Mangotsfield felt they had a huge opportunity for a penalty, appealing for handball as they pressed in the Slimbridge box, but Referee James Lewis waved away their appeals. 

To add salt to the wound, the resulting corner for the hosts was headed home by Jaydn Crosbie, but his effort was ruled out for a push in the box.

The home side continued to press – their next corner saw another come back into play off the post, and it only seemed a matter of time before the equaliser came. 

But Slimbridge held firm, with Ellis Parker making some good saves, and the back four hurling themselves into blocks to defend the lead. 

On 82 minutes though, Mangotsfield were finally level – a cross from Stuart Tovey was converted by Louis Short’s header and the game was level.

As both sides pushed for a winner, Rudi McKinnon has a good effort saved, while at the other end, Parker denied Jake Hicks after his good run produced an on target effort. 

With two minutes left on the clock, a through ball from McKinnon saw Hands and Glover clash as they both went to challenge, with both players going down after a clash of heads. Thankfully, they were both up on their feet after treatment and able to continue. 

Seven minutes of stoppage time were signalled by the Referee, and in the fourth minute, another great diagonal saw Clayson free in the box. His effort was blocked and a scramble ensued, but Campbell managed to turn a drill home a winner to win the game for the Swans. 

There was still time for Dale Evans and Isaac Flynn to receive bookings as tension rose at the end of the clash, with Flynn receiving his second yellow after a very harsh looking booking in the first half and being dismissed.

Finally, after ten minutes of stoppage time, had been played out it was all over and Slimbridge had recorded their fourth League win of the season.

Speaking after the game, Joint Manager Adam Coyle was happy to heap praise upon his side, and especially Theo Clayson after another Man Of The Match Performance. 

We owed it to ourselves more than anything, because we massively let ourselves down on Saturday. We’ve been a completely different side tonight, and got a really really good three points against a very good side. 

I felt when the equaliser went in that we were happy with our shape, we were frustrating them, and it was a really really good away team performance. We had to dig in, grind it out, and take your chances in the final third. 

All credit to Mangotsfield, they are a really good side – they had plenty of energy, they absolutely ran their socks off, and they’ve got some really good players, but I think on balance in terms of our desire, we deserved it. 

We did what you need to do when you come away from home to win a game of football. 

We had a little chat at half time about Theo’s positioning, and within three minutes, he gets it where he wanted to receive it and it was a goal, so that’s always nice when things like that happen. He’s an absolutely massive threat, a young kid with loads of ability and talent, and he deserves all the credit he gets. 

The desire wasn’t there on Saturday, the bare minimum is to give everything you’ve got, and on Saturday we didn’t give anything. 

Tonight was desire, heart, spirit, togetherness, everything you need to get a win away from home.’

Slimbridge return to Thornhill Park on Friday (8^th September 7.45pm) when they entertain third placed Westfields. 

Team: Parker, Clayson, Prictor, Hands, Dennis, Mara, McKinnon, Evans, Hawes (Campbell 61), Dashfield (Mills 82), Thomas

Goals: Clayson 48, Campbell 90+4

Supporters Man Of The Match: Theo Clayson