Two sloppy goals cost Fairford Town a victory (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Two sloppy goals cost Fairford Town a victory

TWO sloppy goals in the second half of Saturday's match cost Fairford three points against a Henley Town side just one place above them in the league table.

But the Cinder Lane team had appeared comfortable throughout, particularly after Lee Stoddart had given them a fourth-minute lead.

While visiting Henley looked keen to impress, especially after their victory over high-riding Highworth a week earlier, the rivals' defence stuck to their task well during the first half.

Nonetheless, while the hosts made a number of good chances, not one of them resulted in another goal.

In fact, Henley struck twice in the space of six minutes to take an unexpected 2-1 lead.

Their first goal came via an unguarded moment when Gareth Davis went to trap the ball.

When he lost control, Lawrence nipped to take the ball and push it past an onrushing James Price, the Fairford keeper, for a 61st-minute strike.

Worse followed minutes later after the visitors were awarded a corner.

From the resulting flag-kick and with the home defence ball watching, an unmarked Friday took great delight in planting his chance into the back of the Fairford net.

And so Henley had been allowed to come from behind to sneak a 2-1 lead out of the blue.

With the local side now suddenly staring defeat in the face, they set about restoring the status quo.

Further opportunities came and went for Fairford, but the anticipated equaliser failed to materialise.

It was with time fast running out that the hosts had a perfect chance to draw level.

But when Simon Gregory was presented with the ideal opportunity to head a cross into an empty net, he nodded his effort frustratingly wide of the mark and that was that.