Defeat for Town

Town’s Challenge Cup aspirations came to an end at a wet and soggy Slimbridge, where they were unable to withstand the home team’s second half onslaught that resulted in a two goal half time lead being surrendered.

Such was the comfortable way in which Town had controlled the first half, the way the team succumbed was disappointing and out of character when compared to how they have played since joining the Hellenic league.

On a pitch made boggy by continuous rain in the hour and half before kick off, Town started brightly with Luke Williams making light of the playing surface to cause problems on the left flank and with his corner kicks.

Name sake Tom Williams shot wide on seven minutes while Slimbridge keeper Dave Evans smothered a Lyle Smith effort and caught a Chris Hatton header that was directed straight to him.

Slimbridge’s main threat was forward Adam Philp who worked hard and looked to get behind Town’s defence when on the ball but apart from Matt Skinner comfortably picking up a through ball to Philp and Philp having an effort go wide, Slimbridge caused Town little problems.

Town looked the most likely to open the scoring with Jamie Fairchild going wide from a corner and Evans having to palm another Luke Williams’ corner away from under his cross bar.

The break through came on thirty six minutes when Lyle Smith put Carl Davies in one on one on goal and this was followed six minutes later when Richard Thomas’ cross found the unmarked Tom Williams to head home Woodley’s second.

As is to be expected from a team two down at home in a cup tie, Slimbridge started the half strongly resulting in Town struggling to get their passing game going and having to defend a series of corners that saw Skinner push one from Paul Carter out from under his bar and Jim Nightingale head another off the goal line.

It was from another corner on fifty two minutes that Rob Hine was allowed to direct his header through a crowd of players to ignite the Slimbirdge fight back.

Town responded with Tom Williams being adjudged to have fouled Evans from a James Roberts’ cross, while a Luke Williams low cross evaded a sliding Tom Williams at the far post and an appeal for a penalty following a Slimbridge handball were turn down.

The equaliser came on seventy six minutes when a Skinner goal kick was received by Marvin Roberts who found substitute Ross Langworthy to equalise.

Pushing for a winner, Town were caught on the counter attack on eighty four minutes when good passing allowed Ben Wood to give Slimbridge the lead and the fight back was completed five minutes later when Langworthy got the better of Alex Jarratt to allow Lewis Wilton to finish the scoring and give the team a deserved semi final tie.

With this being the first of four matches in eight days, Town need to put the defeat behind them and seek maximum points to cement a creditable first season in the league.

Skinner, Baxter, Thomas, Fairchild (Waring), Nightingale, Hatton, Guiblin, T Williams (Jarratt), Smith (Roberts), Davies, L Williams