FOOTBALL: Fairford fall to late sucker punch (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Injury time winner denies Fairford Town at Lambourn Sports

10:50am Monday 3rd September 2012 in Sport

Uhlsport Hellenic Div 1 West.

Lambourn Sports 2 Fairford Town 1.

A GOAL four minutes into second half injury-time condemned Fairford Town to defeat at Lambourn Sports on Saturday afternoon.

Fielding a side missing several injured first-team regulars, manager Paul Braithwaite saw his side edged out in the first half before a determined second half effort almost saw Fairford return to Cinder Lane with the win.

The home side opened the scoring on 22 minutes with Russ Benham on hand to smash home a loose ball after a poor Fairford clearance.

Fairford struggled to get to grips with the game in the opening exchanges with Callum Parsons' 38th minute drive the first real opportunity.

Going in a goal down at the break, Fairford rallied for the second period and Nathan Gambling almost equalised in the first minute after the restart, but saw his effort fly over.

Lee Simpson then cut in from the left and saw his 20-yard piledriver superbly tipped over by Steve Howe in the Lambourn goal.

Moments later, Fairford grabbed a deserved leveller. A shot from Ryan Merchant was saved, with Simpson on hand to tap home the loose ball to make it 1-1.

Chances then came and went for the visitors, who conceded a winner with the last kick of the game. A cross from the left was headed past keeper Ben Mitchell who had largely been a spectator in the second period.