Slimbridge returned from the AllPay Stadium on Tuesday with three points courtesy of a Nathan Dennis goal in the second half, in a tightly fought contest.

Westfields had the better of the opening exchanges, with Oli Barnes and Isaac Richards failing to take advantage of some good opportunities, but Westfields were restricted mainly to long range efforts which didn’t create too many problems for Swans’ Keeper James Holder. 

Slimbridge had a couple of good efforts around the 25 minute mark, but George Neill saw his effort saved, before Rudi McKinnon set up Shiyak Sutherland for a good shot which was pushed for a corner by Westfields Keeper Kieron Blackburn.

After another effort from the dangerous looking Richards had come to nothing, Myron Turner saw a volley well blocked at the other end, before Richards again, and then Archie Muirhead failed to convert good chances for the home side, leaving the teams level at the half.

Slimbridge came out with a renewed sense of purpose after the break, and the momentum of the game changed. 

Westfields squandered another opportunity on 53 minutes when Richards headed over from Jac Evans’ Free Kick, but with Rudi McKinnon and George Neill looking increasingly dangerous for the visitors, it was no surprise when the Swans took the lead on 63 minutes. 

Ben Hands’ Free Kick into the Westfields box found its way to Nathan Dennis via Charlie Hitchings’ flick, and he bundled the ball over the line to put Slimbridge ahead.

A few minutes later, a great move involving McKinnon and Neill again set up Sutherland, whose effort was just too high, while at the other end Brandon Jennings was off target again with another effort from outside the box for the home side. 

Slimbridge had two late chances to increase their lead – with four minutes remaining, Sam Blackie set up Edji Mbunga, whose effort was just wide, while in the second minute of stoppage time, Theo Clayson was unlucky not to convert after a scramble in the Westfields box.

The win pushes Slimbridge up to sixth in the Hellenic League table ahead of their visit to Corsham Town on Saturday.

Speaking after the game, Rudi McKinnon heaped praise on the side – ‘I thought it was a good result for us, I thought the boys played well – all of us from one to seventeen on the bench. We started well, and then we came out in the second half with the same intensity. It was a great ball in by Handsy, and then Chas and Nath did what they do, winning their headers. 

At half time, we were just told to carry on playing the same way, to be honest. We felt that we had played quite well – they had chances in the first half, but we felt that all their shots and chances were coming from deep. They weren’t really getting in and around our box and causing us too much hassle, I feel like that’s credit to Nath and Chas, to be honest, and especially Millsy, who I thought was superb today. 

But we carried on doing our thing, playing our football, we didn’t really want to change too much and start going direct, we wanted to keep to the way we know that we can play.

Looking forward to the trip to Corsham, McKinnon was optimistic – ‘At the end of the day for us it’s another game. Of course it’s a big game, but we’ve got confidence in our team, we had a poor result against Mangotsfield, but we showed today what we can do, and that we can play, so I’m sure we’ll go there and fight like we know we can, and hopefully we’ll get three points. 

Team: Holder, Mara, Turner, Mills (Mbunga 85), Dennis, Hitchings, McKinnon (Clayson 77), Hands, Neill, Blackie, Sutherland

Goal: Dennis 63

Supporters Club Man of the Match: Craig Mills

The Club have announced that on March 23^rd, which is Non League Day, for the home game against Hereford Pegasus, anyone who produces a Season Ticket for a Football League club will get entry at concession prices for just £5. 

Slimbridge Under 18’s are in action on Sunday, when they entertain Bristol Manor Farm in the GFA U18s County Cup. Kick off is at 4.30pm, Entry is £3, Under 16’s free.

The Supporters Club have announced that their latest quiz night, on Sunday 31^st March, has now sold out. The evening starts at 7.30pm.