Fairford Town bounce back from early setback in style (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fairford Town bounce back from early setback in style

AFTER losing their opening league game of the season, Fairford have bounced in some style with a trio of Hellenic League Premier Division victories garnered in just six days.

After missing a number of key men in that first game, Fairford turned in a competent display in last week's mid-week match against visiting Bicester Town.

A tenth-minute goal for Neil Matthews and a penalty tucked away by Lee Stoddart 13 minutes from time was just reward for he team in this Wednesday evening fixture.

A rampant Cinder Lane outfit took a luckless Gloucester United side apart on Saturday, inflicting a 6-0 defeat.

Lee Stoddart opened the Fairford account on 42 minutes and Neil Matthews put them 2-0 up on the stroke of half-time.

J Webb gave the hosts a 3-0 lead just two minutes after the interval before Stoddart waded in with his second in the 53rd minute.

Courtney Chessell got on to the scorers' sheet with a 71st-minute goal before Stevenson rounded off a satisfying afternoon with goal number six two minutes from time.

The re-inforced defences of Almondsbury Town soon came crumbling down as their Fairford visitors launched an unanswered four-goal salvo in Monday's Bank Holiday fixture.

It was Kilfoyle who breached the Bristol side's defences as early as the second minute.

Striker Lee Stoddart, who is quickly getting into his old scoring routine, bagged the visitors' second on the half-hour.

Just two minutes later and Fairford were three goals to the good when Webb also found the back of the net.

When Stoddart scored his second on the hour, the 'Almonds' knew it was well and truly time to pack their bags and go home.

For Fairford manager Mark Webb, it proved a thoroughly fine afternoon's work.

He said, "After that first early goal, I felt able to relax and enjoy the match. "Three victories on the trot, a dozen goals scored without conceding one ourselves is pretty good going it has to be said."

Nonetheless, he is very mindful of this Saturday's important trip to Bristol to face Backwell United in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.

Backwell, who play in the Premier Division of the Screwfix Western League, can also score goals, having thrashed basement boys Dawlish Town 7-1 last Saturday.

Naturally, Webb would relish a decent run in this prestigious competition. The draw, though, generally fails to favour his Fairford side who always seemed destined to have to play away on the big occasions.