Toolstation Western Premier League

Slimbridge 3 Bitton 0

IT was an eventful afternoon at Wisloe Road in which the Swans overcome a Bitton side who had to play with nine men for over an hour of the contest after two reckless dismissals in the first half.

Adam Mace's early penalty gave the home side the advantage, and second half goals from Sean Lawson and Dean Turner sealed the win for the hosts, who currently occupy seventh place in the Toolstation Western Premier League.

The game got off to a controversial start. With seven minutes on the clock, a tussle in the Bitton penalty box saw Tyrone Fudgell see red from referee Mark Russell for a punch on Adam Mace, and Mace picked himself up to convert the subsequent penalty to put the home side ahead.

The game was already threatening to boil over, and another bust up five minutes later saw Sean Lawson and Bitton's Rob Smith in the book as tempers flared.

On 19 minutes, Bitton's Mike Maker was next into the book as the heat rose on the pitch.

A minute later, Bitton keeper John Rendell was amazingly not punished further for collecting a through ball a yard outside his box with his hands as Lawson closed in, but the Swans were unable to take advantage, Freddy Ward's subsequent free-kick being blocked by the Bitton wall.

Three minutes later, Mace chased down and blocked a clearance from Rendell, but was unable to direct his cross, and the keeper recovered to collect the ball.

Paul Fahy had a good opportunity to increase the lead on 26 minutes when Lawson played him in, but Rendell made a good stop with his feet.

Battles continued to rage across the park, and Mace worked his way into the book after protesting Mitch Harrison's elbow into Sam Turl's face as they were waiting for a corner to be delivered.

Just before the half hour, the visitor's frustration boiled over again, and an appalling high two-footed challenge by Luke Bryan on Turl saw the Bitton man dismissed, and his side reduced to nine men.

Slimbridge were pressing to try and make their advantage pay, and Rich Thwaite had a golden opportunity before the break to add the second, but his header from Mace's cross was wide of the post, and the hosts went in just a single goal to the good at the break.

Bitton had a great opportunity to get back into the game in the first minute of the second half, when Freddy's Ward was deemed to have fouled Conor Britton in the Swans penalty box, but Dave Evans, diving to his right, pushed Eugene Keary's spot kick out for a corner.

At the other end, Lawson made a great opportunity for Fahy with a powerful run down the Slimbridge left flank, but Fahy couldn't control the ball as it came over and the chance was lost.

Just before the hour mark, Mace went close again with an effort after a good cross from Turl, and two minutes later, Mace's cross was just too high for the onrushing Ward, and he just failed to connect with his head to a good cross into the Bitton box.

On 67 minutes, the Swans notched their second as Callum Brown's lovely cross was met by Ward at the back post, and he headed it back across the goal for Lawson to nod home from a yard out.

Slimbridge thought they had recorded their third on 75 minutes, but Dean Turner's effort after more good work from Mace was flagged offside.

Two minutes from time, the home side notched their third, when Turner and Mace combined well and Turner finished with style to put the game away.

Slimbridge are back at Wisloe Road next Saturday when Bradford Town are the visitors (3pm).

Team: Evans, Turl (Tunnicliff 70), Brown, Odiero, Rich Thwaite, Ward, Turner, Mills, Lawson, Fahy (Parrott 61), Mace