Swans Joint Manager Tom Deakin was delighted with his side’s performance as they saw off Play Off rivals Fairford Town at Thornhill Park to move back into the Hellenic League Premier Play Off spots. 

‘Positive, very positive – it’s one for us to enjoy, but not get carried away with. Looking at it now, it’s a very very good three points. I thought from start to finish, we were the better team. They scored a great goal to finish the game off to be fair to Shutty, but I think from start to finish we had the better ball, we had the better chances, and we made sure in the second half that we were clinical in what we did. 

We said at half time that we needed to defend a little bit tighter at times, because when we had the ball we were a little bit exposed on the counter, but the two goals in the second half meant we controlled the game a little bit more. We just said to the lads at half time that if we keep a clean sheet, we get three points. But we’ve gone out there, we’ve done the job, they did the tasks they were given, some were different jobs to normal, and it’s now moving on to Tuesday night.’

An early Shiyak Sutherland goal saw the Swans ahead at the break, although it took an Ellis Parker penalty save from Jamal Lawrence just before the half hour mark to see the hosts remain ahead at the interval. 

Two quick goals in two second half minutes effectively finished the game off – firstly, Sutherland converted a penalty after Jack Smith had been fouled in the Fairford box, and less than a minute later, Smith converted a Sam Blackie cross to record the third. 

A late corker of a shot from ex-Swan Joe Shutt was merely a consolation for the visitors. 

Sutherland caused issues for the visitors all game, and nearly got on target as early as the first minute, but Fairford Keeper Harry Ellis saved his effort after good work from Theo Clayson had set him up. 

At the other end, Danny Way was off target after his free kick came back off the Slimbridge wall, and he skied his follow up. 

On seven minutes, Slimbridge took the lead – Sutherland chased down a Fairford header back to the Keeper, and rounded Ellis to walk it into the empty net. 

Slimbridge were forced into an early change when Craig Mills came off with a knee injury on 18 minutes, with Jack Smith taking his place, with a formation reshuffle following. 

With 26 minutes gone, Fairford had a glorious opportunity to level things up when Charlie Hitchings was penalised for a foul on Lawrence. The Slimbridge man earnt a booking, but Ellis Parker guessed right, dived to his left, and saved Lawrence’s spot kick to keep the hosts in front. 

After Charlie McRae was just off target with another free kick for Fairford, George Neill saw his effort blocked for a corner just before the break, leaving Slimbridge one goal to the good at half time. 

Slimbridge had better of the early second half exchanges, with Jack Smith unable to convert an effort following the block of Sutherland’s effort, but a second goal looked like it was coming for the hosts and it arrived on 66 minutes. 

Smith was fouled in the Fairford box, and, like the previous award, there was no doubt about the award of the spot kick. Sutherland found the corner of the net to double the lead. 

Almost straight from the Kick Off, Slimbridge got another – Blackie’s cross from the right wing was turned in by Smith. 

Fairford, to their credit, continued to press, and it took what will probably be awarded as ‘Tackle of the Season‘ at the Club’s awards ceremony as Harrison Coker, chasing Lawrence who was through on goal with 15 minutes remaining, not only managed to take the ball from the striker without bringing him down from behind, but the was first to recover and play the ball to safety. It was the crowning moment of a great performance from the Bristol Rovers loanee.

Bogdan Mara went close for Slimbridge as the game moved into the last ten minutes, but he was denied by a great save from Ellis. 

In the second minute of stoppage time, the ball fell to Joey Shutt on the edge of the Slimbridge box, and he drilled the ball past Parker to deny the Swans a clean sheet. 

On Tuesday, Slimbridge travel to bottom of the League Wantage Town (7.45pm), before a sequence of four home games will decide how the end to their season plays out. 

Deakin is already looking forward to the next game – ‘We’ve got to approach Tuesday the same as today – it’s three points, and we have to take that into the game again. Today was Shiyak’s day and Smithy’s day off the bench - he’s come on brilliantly for Millsy as well - but last week it was Millsy’s day. Today, Shiyak and Smithy, on Tuesday it might be another player, and that’s what we’ve got to do as a group between now and the end of the season. 

For every game, we need somebody else to step up, and hopefully we’ll go to Wantage – it’ll be tough for us on a Tuesday night – but it’s there for us to go and get three points. 

Slimbridge are back at Thornhill Park next Saturday (23^rd, 3.00pm) when Hereford Pegasus are the visitors.

Team: Parker, Mara, Coker, Mills (Smith 18), Dennis, Hitchings, Sutherland (Prictor 87), Turner, Neill, Blackie, Clayson (Mbunga 76)

Goals: Sutherland 7, 66 (Penalty), Smith 67

Supporters Club Man of the Match: Shiyak Sutherland