Barnstaple Town 1

Slimbridge 2

SLIMBRIDGE returned home from Barnstaple with an important victory, writes Rob Peck.

Manager Lee Driver-Dickerson gave a start to youth team scoring sensation Adam Bloomfield and a debut for Gloucester City teenager Danny King and a place on the bench for another youth starlet, Finley Byrnes.

The greasy surface seemed to be causing problems for both sets of players, who were finding it hard to keep their feet and in what can only be described as a poor first-half, with neither keeper really being troubled.

Edji Mbunga went close for the Swans, but his shot went high whilst at the other end Jack Langford should have done better when clear on goal, but shot wildly high and wide.

Two poor challenges by the home side on Will Hawes that surprisingly went unpunished by a lenient referee, resulted in the former Shortwood man having to leave the field after 30 minutes, Hawes being replaced by Yeshaya Lomotey.

Barnstaple had the best chance of the half when on 40 minutes. Jordan Charran found himself one-on-one with Eric Edge, but his weak shot went wide of the post.

The second period began with the Swans playing with much more purpose and the deadlock was broken on 58 minutes when Lomotey played a delightful through ball to Mubunga who rounded keeper Robert Holmes, handing the Swans the lead.

Barnstaple responded well to going behind and put the Swans defence under pressure for a short while, Billy Hopcroft went close with a good effort and a couple of corners were well dealt with by a strong defence, which was being well marshalled by a good Swans back four.

However, on 78 minutes the home side were level when slightly against the run of play and a lapse in the visitors defence allowed Barum's Jack Rice-Lethaby to sneak in and fire a shot from 10 yards past Edge in the visitors goal.

It was Slimbridge's turn to respond, and the introduction of Ewen Dunbar with 10 minutes to go proved vital.

Mbunga did exceptionally well to beat two men in midfield and thread a precision ball through the Barnstaple defence to Dunbar who's pace sent him clear and the former Evesham Utd player finished well with a low shot past Holmes to send the Swans supporters delirious.

In the final minute Bloomfield found himself one-on-one with keeper Holmes and as he attempted to round the home keeper tripped the youngster and the referee awarded a penalty, the only surprise was that Holmes was only shown a yellow card.

Bloomfield's penalty kick was saved by Holmes, who dived low to his right but it was to make no difference as the full-time whistle was blown immediately after.

Slimbridge now have two home cup games, starting with Winchester City on Saturday in the FA Trophy and Merthyr Town on Wednesday, October 3rd, 7.45pm.

Slimbridge: Edge, Payne, Harper-Emerson, Pring, Noakes, Hands, Turner, Hawes (Lomotey 33), Bloomfield, King(Dunbar 81), Mbunga

Subs not used :Pulman,Byrnes.

Attendance 72

Supporters' player of the match: Ben Hands.