Friday Night Football at Thornhill Park continued to supply the entertainment, as a rollercoaster game eventually saw the spoils shared between two team locked together in the Hellenic League Table, and who put on a great show for both sets of supporters. 

After the Saturday results, Slimbridge sit in eighth place in the Hellenic Premier League, two points off the play off spots, while Pershore’s point moves them up to sixth in the table. 

The first ten minutes set the tone for the rest of the game, with play see-sawing from end to end – Jack Smith had a dangerous effort blocked on four minutes, while at the other end, Petar Tonchev was off target with a good effort two minutes later. James Clark was next to try his luck for the visitors, but saw Swans’ Keeper Ellis Parker make a good stop. 

At the other end, George Neill then charged down a clearance from Pershore Keeper Eddie Cox, but was unable to convert the loose ball and the chance was cleared. 

After Matt Reed had gone close with ten minutes on the clock, he immediately followed up with the opening goal, converting a loose ball after Parker had saved an effort from Clarke to put the visitors ahead. 

Slimbridge continued to press, with Harrison Reeves and then Jack Smith having good efforts blocked, before Edji Mbunga’s dangerous cross somehow eluded Neill as it drifted across the Pershore six yard box. 

After another close effort from Pershore’s Dylan Parker, and a header from Charlie Hitchings that just drifted wide for the hosts, the half closed with Pershore ahead. 

The second period saw the entertainment and the chances continue – three minutes into the half, a Pershore corner was cleared to Jyrel Bojang, and his effort was just over the bar. 

Slimbridge had a shout for a penalty turned down on 55 minutes, when Edji Mbunga went down in the Pershore box following a challenge, but the Slimbridge man was booked for simulation by Referee Cody Woodley, and Pershore held onto their advantage. 

The chances continued to come at both ends – Clarke brought another good save from Parker as Pershore pressed, and then Cox saved an effort from Jack Smith as the home side pressed. 

On 65 minutes, Pershore doubled their lead – a through ball saw Josh Willis dink the ball over Parker to put the visitors further ahead. 

However, just as they did at Tuffley after going two behind, Slimbridge responded immediately. A double substitution saw Theo Clayson and Rudi McKinnon replace Smith and Joe Hunt, and within seconds, McKinnon found space in the Pershore box, and, aided by a deflection, reduced the deficit. 

Pershore had chances to increase their lead – on 71 minutes, Parker saw his effort slam back into play off the Slimbridge bar, but then two swift Slimbridge goals turned the game on it’s head. 

McKinnon played a neat ball to Ben Hands, and his effort beat Cox to level things up, and then eight minutes later, George Neill played in Harrison Reeves, who beat two men and slotted the ball part Cox to put the home side ahead. 

Pershore refused to surrender though, and a fine finish from Clarke as the game slipped into stoppage time saw a result that was an accurate reflection of a very entertaining game of football. 

Slimbridge Joint Manager Tom Deakin was philosophical speaking after the final whistle – ‘It was a strange one really – to be two-nil down and get a point out of the game, you should be buzzing, but then to be three-two up and concede in the 90^th minute is a little bit disappointing – but at the end of the day, it’s making sure that if you don’t win, you don’t lose, so a point I think at the end of the game is a fair result. 

But it’s something we need to bounce back from, we haven’t conceded late for a while, and it was unfortunate really – a good cross and a really nice finish to level the game. 

But coming back again from two goals down, that shows we are hard working, we are resilient. Tonight, Rudi’s come on and changed the game, he’s been superb. He’s come on and made a difference for us. 

The goals we conceded are little tweaks that we can work on, we need to be louder in terms of helping each other out. We’re not training as much because we’re playing game after game, which is what the players want at the end of the day. Although I don’t think the lads in the back four deserved to concede three goals today. 

Harrison was brilliant – from start to finish – him and Jack first half made us tick, and then second half, it was Harrison, Rudi and George. He was a threat, created chances and created openings for us – he was superb.’

Team: Parker, Hunt (McKinnon 65), Prictor, Blackie, Hitchings, Hands, Smith (Clayson 65), Turner (Mara 70), Neill, Reeves, Mbunga (Dennis 80)

Goals: McKinnon 67, Hands 72, Reeves 80

Supporters Club Man Of The Match: Harrison Reeves

Slimbridge are in action again tomorrow night (Tuesday 19^th, 7.45pm), when they return to Glevum Park to meet Tuffley Rovers again, this time in the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup. They then travel to Lydney Town on Saturday (23^rd December 3.00pm) for another League fixture. 

The Under 18’s, meanwhile are at Thornhill Park on Tuesday where they host Lydney Town Under 18’s (7.30pm Kick Off).