Tytherington Rocks 1 Slimbridge 6

SLIMBRIDGE recorded a comfortable victory against their Hellenic Division 1 West opponents, ahead of the clash with Forest Green Rovers at Thornhill Park on Monday.

Liam Orchard (2), Rory Thompson, Nathan Payne, Adam Mace and Jamie Martin were on target for the Swans, while Ryan Stevenson netted for the hosts.

Slimbridge started the game on the front foot, and rarely relinquished control of the game, with Adam Mace and Liam Orchard both going close in the first ten minutes.

The first goal, when it arrived on 14 minutes, was controversial, and demonstrates well how difficult it is for match officials to apply the increasingly confusing rules about offside that the Guardians of our game have now developed - The ball was played down the left flank to Nathan Payne, who came from deep and beat the Rocks offside trap.

Jamie Martin was clearly standing offside , and started to make a move towards the ball before realising he was offside and stopping. Payne continue through on goal with the Rocks defenders waiting for a whistle that never came, believing Martin to now be active (and therefore offside), and although Payne’s cross to Liam Orchard was a little too long, Orchard made room for himself to drill the ball under Rocks Keeper Adam Clarke and open the scoring. One can only hope that at some point, sense is seen to prevail and the rules are simplified again to make them easier to enforce. A minute later, while Rocks were still disputing the previous decision, Slimbridge doubled their lead - Orchard played the ball across from a wide position and Rory Thompson slid the ball home to record the second goal of the afternoon.

Orchard was to prove to be a thorn in the Rocks’ side all afternoon, and he brought a good save from Clarke after some impressive work from Payne, and then, on 26 minutes, had a goal ruled out for offside as the Swans dominated.

Still the chances came for the visitors - Martin shot over following good work by Jack Twyman, and then Orchard made another good break down the right flank, before ballooning the ball high and wide with his effort.

Swans’ Keeper Pete Davies had largely been a spectator at this point, but he reacted well to make a good stop to a lovely 25 yard effort effort on the half hour.

Slimbridge retaliated with another good break down the left, and Payne set himself up neatly to beat Clarke one on one and put the third goal in the record books on 33 minutes.

Orchard and Mace combined well again two minutes later, with Mace’s shot just too high.

Just before the break, Mace was close with another effort from 35 yards, bringing a superb stop from Clarke.

The second half was only two minutes old when Slimbridge were awarded a penalty after Ed Major turned his man in the Rocks’ box, and was brought down. Adam Mace stepped up to convert the penalty and put the visitors four goals to the good.

All the chances were still going to the Swans, with Mace again, and then Martin just off target, before a break down the left flank on 58 minutes saw Orchard beat Clarke with an absolute peach of a shot from the corner of the penalty to record goal number five.

Clarke made a good stop to pick the ball off Major’s feet when he was through on goal, and then made a good stop from Payne’s effort as Slimbridge continued to press.

The hosts’ afternoon was summed up when a loose pass across the Swans’ back line was pounced upon by Luke Whittam, who then scuffed his effort well wide when he was through on goal.

On 74 minutes, Slimbridge recorded their sixth - a scramble in the box saw the ball fall to Jamie Martin with his back to goal, and his clever backheel beat Clarke and the defender on the line.

Rocks were still fighting though, and went straight up the other and and scored - Stevenson netting from a break straight from the Kick Off.

There was still time for a couple more efforts from the visitors - Johnny Cant played in Archie Haskayne with ten minutes remaining, and his effort drifted just too high.

Just before the final whistle, Payne’s effort was deflected for a corner, which saw Major’s header bring another good save from Clarke - the ball was played back into the box, but was just a little too high for Rich Thwaite, who headed wide.

Slimbridge Squad: Davies, Prothero, Mace, Ryan Thwaite, Hoyle, Turner, Thompson, Twyman, Martin, Orchard, Payne, Oldham, Cant, Rich Thwaite, Haskayne, Turl Goals: Orchard 14, 58 Thompson 15, Payne 33, Mace (Pen) 47, Martin 74