Uhlsport Hellenic Div 1 West.

Fairford Town 3 New College Academy 1.

FAIRFORD Town ran out 3-1 winners against New College Academy on Thursday night in front of the Cinder Lane club’s second highest attendance of the season.

The game saw three second half goals and a late dismissal which entertained all those who came out to support the Hellenic Division One West encounter.

Without the suspended Nathan Gambling, Fairford boss Paul Braithwaite started with Callum Parsons up front, but the opening goal came from a set piece after 19 minutes.

A deft free kick by Steve Hall was met by centre back Ashley Taylor, whose glancing header found the far corner.

Winger Dan Drewitt then went close with a good run and shot as the visitors defended doggedly.

After the break, Fairford turned up the pressure and were duly rewarded.

Dan Bailey nearly doubled the lead on the hour with a rasping drive which flew narrowly over. The same midfielder did then find the target with a superb low shot from the edge of the box on 61 minutes.

Another well-worked set piece yielded the third Fairford goal on 65 minutes. Hall and Taylor combined again with the centre back finding the net with a powerful header.

On 70 minutes, youngster Josh Skeates pulled one back for New College with a firm drive, which Mitchell in the home goal did manage to get a hand on though he could not keep it out.

New College were reduced to ten men late on but it failed to take the shine off a productive night’s work for Fairford.

Fairford Town: Mitchell, Eddie, Stubbs (Rudd, 56), Taylor, Hall, Skinner (Carter, 59), Williams, Traas, Drewitt (Curtis, 69), Bailey, Parsons. Unused subs: English, Davis.