Sllimbridge AFC suffered back to back 3-1 defeats on Saturday as the Swans visited Highworth Town in the FA Vase.

It was Slimbridge who had the better of the opening minutes, Marley Thomas on the end of a couple half chances.

Despite the early encouragement, Slimbridge conceded the opening goal in the 14th minute.

Tom Griffiths, who found himself with space to cross the ball, attempted to find a teammate in the penalty area, but his cross evaded all, and curled into the far corner of Ellis Parker's net.

Later in the half, and looking for an equaliser, Slimbridge linked up well through Edji Mbunga and Jack Smith.

The midfielder's cross deflected into the path of Thomas who saw his close range effort saved by Connor Johns in the Highworth goal.

An attempted clearance from Nath Dennis almost helped the Worthians double their lead, but Parker did superbly to keep the accidental effort out. 

With little remaining highlights in the first half, Slimbridge went into the break 1-0 down.

Come the hour mark, the Swans had a brilliant opportunity to equalise through Mbunga. 

The forward used his pace to beat his opponent before entering the penalty area and pulling the ball back to Ben Hands whose shot fell back to Mbunga, but with the goal in front of him, the shot bounced into the hands of Johns.

With just 15 minutes left of the game, Luke Whelan doubled Highworth's lead with a clinical first time finish, looping over Parker.

Just two minutes later, Marley Thomas looked to have got the Swans back into the tie as he dispatched a penalty, won by Hands who was challenged late in the area, past the Highworth shot-stopper.

But, Riegan Cook had other ideas as just moments later, the defender skipped through multiple challenges and netted a killer third.

"Credit to them, they were well organised, they are a good side and took their chances when it mattered." 

Deakin labelled the missed chances as one of the issues on the day.

"I thought we started well, probably should've been up from our first attack, and then from the resulting corner as well.

"Again I think we've had the better chances in the second half and the two goals they've scored is poor from us."

Concentration turns back to the league now as the Swans travel to Sem Stadium to take on Fairford Town on Tuesday evening before Tuffley Rovers visit Thornhill Park on Saturday.

As for the U18's, they face Cheltenham Saracens next at home. With this game also being on Tuesday night, those not making the trip to Fairford are welcome to show their support at Thornhill Park.

Team: Parker, Mara, Prictor (McKinnon '65), Hands (Turner '77), Dennis, Hitchings, Mbunga (Clayson '65), Blackie, Neill, Smith, Thomas

Goals: Thomas, '76

Supporters Man of the Match: Charlie Hitchings.