An eventful afternoon at Cinder Lane saw the sides share the spoils, with two late dismissals for the hosts seeing Fairford finish the game with nine men on the pitch. Jamal Lawrence’s goal gave the home side the lead, but Rhys Sarsons’ equaliser saw the sides level at the break. The late dismissals of Fairford’s Danny Hay and then Luke Hitchman came too late to allow the Swans time to take full advantage. The game also marked Captain Myron Turner’s 200^th appearance for the club. 

A relatively uneventful start to the game saw a Fairford goal from Lawrence ruled out early on, before the returning Bogdan Mara saw his headed effort saved by Fairford Keeper Ben Mitchell. 

Slimbridge were forced into an early reshuffle when Sam Blackie picked up a shoulder injury on 18 minutes, and he was replaced by Toby Soule. 

Slimbridge had a spell of good pressure which saw Sarson and Jack Watts both go close, before Fairford broke the deadlock on 37 minutes – Lawrence playing a neat 1-2 in the Slimbridge box and beating Gavin Jones to put the home side ahead. 

Slimbridge struck before the break though – After Jacob Rodgers was crudely fouled on the edge of the Fairford box on 43 minutes, Sarson was on hand to power a header from Jonty Welch’s free kick. 

As the game approached the break, Watts played in Sarson who was off target to leave the sides level at the interval. 

The second half was a fairly even affair, characterised by some robust tackling from the home side. 

Lawrence went wide early on, and Sarson was again off target as the half developed. 

Another challenge led to injury to Soule saw the Slimbridge man seeking treatment, but Slimbridge were looking the most likely – Jack Smith was just too high, Mara found the side netting, and Fairford’s frustration grew. 

On 84 minutes, Referee Ed Turner had seen enough and issued a second yellow card to Danny Hay for another lunging tackle. 

With Fairford packing their box, it became a game of attack against defence, and in the first minute of stoppage time, Theo Clayson’s header was saved and Sarson drilled the loose ball over the Fairford bar. 

Two minutes later, Luke Hitchman stopped Jones from making a quick clearance and received his second yellow, putting Fairford down to nine men. 

As the game played out the eight minutes of stoppage time, Sarson again and then Liam Harper were off target to end a frustrating afternoon for the Swans, who would have accepted a point before the game started but had chances to kill the game off and gain all three.

Slimbridge are back at Thornhill Park on Saturday when Malmesbury Victoria return for a League game following the Swans’ FA Cup victory at the start of the season. 

The Under 18’s have two games this week – on Tuesday (15^th, 7.30pm), they host Stourport Swifts in the HFA Cup, and on Thursday they travel to Rednock for an away League game against Dursley Town (17^th, 7.30pm).

Team: Jones, Turner, Rodgers, Blackie (Soule 18, replaced by Hands 86), Dennis, Mara, Clayson, Welch, Watts, Smith (Harper 82), Sarson

Goals: Rhys Sarson 43

Supporters Club Man of the Match: Theo Clayson