Following their loss at Thornhill Park on Saturday to Royal Wootton Bassett Town, who have already clinched a Play Off berth, Slimbridge face an excruciating wait until April 22^nd to discover whether they will remain in the final Play off spot in the Hellenic Premier League. 

If they stay in fifth spot, they will face an away tie at Corsham Town, who finished second, but if Cinderford Town pick up three points from their final two games, they will take over fifth position.

Given that Cinderford’s final game is against Champions Worcester City, it likely that the final outcome will become much clearer following Monday night, when Cinderford are at home to Mangotsfield United, but nothing will be confirmed until both games have been completed.

After a goalless first half, a 67^th minute strike from Rudi McKinnon had the Swans fans in dreamland, but Bassett hit back straight away with two goals from Alfie Presley saw the visitors take the spoils, and set up a Play Off tie with Highworth Town, although the venue of that one will not be decided until Highworth complete their last game – a win would Highworth gain home advantage on Goal Difference. 

Speaking after the game, Joint Manager Tom Deakin was disappointed that the season’s outcome is now out of their hands – ‘It’s hard to take, I was gutted at the end. I felt throughout the game that it was quite evenly balanced, and that the first goal might just send the game either way, and it was a hell of a strike from Rudi – it was a great move, Jack played it out to him, but then it was a little like the season has been – we’ve then gone and conceded two silly goals in the space of four minutes, I think it was. And at the end of the day, that’s the difference. We had a couple of chances after that, but not really close enough to get anything.

It's out of our hands now – it is what it is now, and we’ll probably go and watch the game on Monday night (Cinderford v Mangotsfield), and then we’ll see what happens, the lads are a little bit downbeat at the minute, but if we do get the chance to play again, we’ll be ready to do it. If we don’t we start to prepare for next season.’

On a day when the club welcomed back 1951-52 Season League and Cup double winning player Dennis Davis as guest of honour, the early exchanges saw few chances for either side – George Neill forced a good save from Bassett Keeper James Foster early on, while Bassett’s best opportunity came from a free kick which Jack Hobson-McVeigh blasted into the Slimbridge wall. 

Probably the best chance of the half occurred with half an hour gone, when Foster scuffed a clearance to George Neill, but then redeemed himself with a superb stop to deny the Swans striker. 

The miss seemed to spur the visitors into action, and Elliott Dugan had two chances off target, before a dangerous run from Jowan Partridge saw him bring a good stop from Slimbridge Keeper Ellis Parker, leaving the teams level at the break. 

Bassett nearly snatched the lead just a minute into the second period, but Scott Chilcott’s effort hit the Slimbridge crossbar and went over. 

A good move involving Rudi McKinnon and Sam Blackie saw a good effort from Jack Smith which forced another good Foster save as the game heated up. 

On 54 minutes, Neill was just inches away from a pinpoint Ben Hands cross with the goal in front of him. At the other end, Alfie Presley went close, but was denied by a good save from Parker. 

As the game swung from end to end, it was Slimbridge who broke the deadlock – after Jack Smith had brought another superb stop from Foster tipping his effort over the bar, some neat interaction between Smith and McKinnon saw Rudi curl a peach of a shot into the corner to put the hosts ahead. 

The lead was only to last four minutes – a foul on Partridge saw Referee Luke Hinchliffe award the visitors a penalty, which was dispatched crisply by Presley to level things up. 

Four minutes later, Presley nabbed another – heading home a cross to put Bassett in the driving seat. 

Slimbridge’s best chance to nick a point came on 90 minutes when Myron Turner saw his effort cleared off the Bassett goaline, but the final whistle saw wild celebrations from the visitors as they complete their regular season with a victory. 

Back to Tom Deakin for the final word – ‘It’s hard to take today, but I’m proud of the lads for the season, from where we started to where we finished. Thirteen of those lads that are in that changing room today were involved in the first game of the season. That shows where we’ve been as a squad all year. We’re disappointed obviously, but at the end of the day, it’s not over yet, we’ve just got to wait and see!’

Team: Parker, Turner, Prictor (Clayson 80), Hands, Dennis, Hitchings, McKinnon, Smith, Neill, Blackie, Sutherland (Mbunga 71)

Goals: McKinnon: 67

Supporters Club Man of the Match: Jack Smith