Since 2007, when they won a GFA Trophy Final against the now defunct Almondsbury Town, Oaklands Park, for many years now the home of the GFA, has not been a happy hunting ground for Slimbridge. Now a soulless cage with a 3G pitch, and with a meagre attendance of 80 on Saturday, the majority from the visiting side, Roman Glass St George dealt far better with the plastic surface and windy conditions conditions to inflict a defeat on Slimbridge that saw them overtake the Swans and move up into the final Hellenic League Play Off Spot. 

Shea Mannings was the hero for the home side, netting a hat trick, while Jack Smith gave the Swans hope after half time with an equaliser before two more goals from Mannings killed the game off for the home side, who dealt with the erttaic bounce and high winds better than their visitors. 

It took 13 minutes for the hosts to go ahead in their first attack of the game as they played with the wind behind them – Laurent Davis- Wilson playing in Mannings on a break that saw him finish past Ellis Parker after Slimbridge had a couple of earlier half chances. 

The Swans hit back, and Theo Clayson was just too high with a good effort after a scramble in the Roman Glass box three minutes later, while Glass can also point to Davis-Wilson hitting the post a couple of minutes later with Jonathan Walker’s follow up blocked. 

On 21 minutes, a good effort from Sam Blackie was just deflected over as he shot, but after a mix up at the back, Mannings managed to hit the woodwork again at the other end as Roman Glass made the better of the conditions. 

Just before the half, Lewis Gilchrist forced a double save from Ellis Parker as the home side continued to press, but it was a single goal lead at the break. 

The second half started well for Slimbridge – Jack Smith rifled a 25 yarder home in the 54^th minute to tie things up, but then two goals in six minutes killed the game off for the home side – a good move on 67 minutes involving Conner Hartley and Alfie Cummings saw Mannings double his goal tally, and then, in the 73^rd, Hartley played in Mannings again to complete his treble. 

Speaking afterwards, Slimbridge Joint Manager Tom Deakin refused to blame the erratic pitch for the defeat – ‘The pitch, to be fair, suited us. How it is, what it is, because it’s 4G it helps us play. The conditions probably not so much – if you hit the ball long, it would run out of play. We made the most of it second half, we didn’t make the most of it first half.

Overall, we’re disappointed in the end. First half, conditions played their part, and then second half, when we got back into it, we were the only team that were going to go on and win it, and then credit to them, they came back into the game and scored two quick goals, and then we were up against it and chasing….’

The Swans have back to back games this week, staring on Tuesday with a GFA Challenge Trophy Quarter Final against Mangotsfield United at Thornhill Park on Tuesday (20^th, 7.45pm). Deakin is looking forward to that encounter – ‘We’ve got a quick turnaround now on Tuesday – we’re better when we’ve got game after game, so we’re looking forward to that – it’s a Cup Quarter Final, we’ll be up for it, we know they will, we need to turn that good twenty minutes in the second half into a good ninety.’

Slimbridge then travel to Wantage Town on Saturday (24^th, 3.00pm) for a Hellenic League encounter.

The Under 18’s trip to Longlevens scheduled for Monday (19^th) has been postponed and will be rearranged. 

Team: Parker, Turner, Prictor, Blackie, Dennis (Sutherland 67), Hitchings, McKinnon (Mbunga 81), Hands, Clayson (Neill 67) Smith, Thomas (Hawes 84)

Supporters Club Man of the Match: Jack Smith