Swans Joint Manager Tom Deakin hailed his team’s reaction as ‘superb’ as they bounced back from successive league defeats to defeat Hereford Pegasus on New Year’s Day. 

George Neill put the visitors ahead with just nine minutes on the clock, but the home side hit back on the half hour through Harry Pitman, leaving the game level at the break. 

Two minutes into the second half, Neill got his second, before his assist saw Theo Clayson make it 3-1 on 55 minutes. 

Pitman got his second on 65 minutes to reduce the deficit again, but ten minutes later, Jack Smith notched the Swans’ fourth. 

With two minutes remaining, Rudi McKinnon’s Free Kick made it five, with Pegasus pulling another goal back three minutes into stoppage time through Cawley Cox. 

The win lifts the Swans up to eighth in the Hellenic League, leapfrogging their hosts. 

Speaking after the game, Deakin was asked his thoughts on whether he got the reaction the Management Team wanted after the defeats to Lydney and Longlevens – ‘Yeah, we got a reaction, and then some. The lads were superb from the minute we got there until the minute we left – I can’t fault anybody, it was a reaction and it was a very good reaction. 

I think it could have been more, if I’m honest, but the boys were superb. 

Crazy as it sounds, although we conceded three goals, we were a lot more resolute defensively. We were a lot more solid, we protected ourselves better, and going the other way, we created some good chances, we weren’t as clinical first half as we could have been, but then second half we were, and that shows in the four goals we scored. 

Our front line were superb – when you look across it, you’ve got George, who scored a couple of goals, Jack scored, Theo scored, Pele’s come on and had an assist and Rudi has come on and scored a free kick. Edji’s been vital as well in two of the goals, so all of the players in that forward line have contributed to that performance. 

Second half, I think we could have scored a couple more, and it was a joy to watch, especially the link up play. Marley and Theo, Jack, George, Edji linking up as a group of players was great to watch. 

Hereford Pegasus were a good attacking side – they’re very good going forward with what they’ve got – they had their chances to be fair to them, but the goals – the first one is an unlucky one for us, the second goal was a mistake from us and the lad has taken his chance very well. It’s a shame for us that the third goal went in, but the goals they scored came more from us than from them. I don’t think we deserved to concede three, but at the end of the day, we got the result and that was what mattered after Saturday. 

Our home form isn’t as consistent, I think, as our away form, so it’s been hit and miss at times, although we’ve scored a lot of goals at home. We haven’t quite got the job done a couple of times at home, but we know we’ve got a busy month ahead, I think we’ve got nine games in January and only three of them are at home, so we’ve got to make the most of what we do have at home, and put on a good performance, because after Saturday, we do owe the home fans a better result.’

Slimbridge return to Thornhill Park on Saturday, when they host Hereford Lads Club (3.00pm)

Team: Parker, Thomas (Mara 86), Prictor, Blackie, Hitchings, Hands, Mbunga (Kouisseoue 65), Turner, Neill (Dennis 90+2), Smith (McKinnon 77), Clayson

Goals: Neill 9, 47, Clayson 55, Smith 74, McKinnon 88

Supporters Club Man of the Match: George Neill