Sam’s Section: Rovers face six-pointer in Manchester as Swans look to build on five-star performance

New Year, same old British weather, killing off numerous games of football around Gloucestershire this week but there is plenty to make up for that this weekend.

Starting at Thornhill Park, which hosts its first game of 2024, when Adam Coyle and Tom Deakins’ Slimbridge take on Hereford Lads Club on Saturday.

The Swans ended 2023 in disappointing fashion with a 3-2 defeat to a struggling Longlevens side but began the new year with an empathic five-star performance.

On New Year’s day, the Swans travelled to Hereford Pegasus for an eight-goal thriller which saw them run at 5-3 winners.

The hunt for the Swans top scorer heated up as George Neill, Rudi McKinnon, and Jack Smith, all got themselves on score sheet yet again, with Theo Clayson also continuing his impressive scoring run.

McKinnon and Smith remained tied on 12 goals each while Neill’s brace put himself a goal behind the frontmen with 11 goals for the season so far.

To make this race even more special Monday’s five-star performance was only the second game this season where all three of the frontmen had scored in the same game.

The Swans will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in 2024 when they host Hereford Lads club.

In the last meeting between the sides, Lads Club held the Swans to a 1-1 draw back in November but a win for the Swans this time round, could see them move to within four points of the playoff spots.

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Up to League Two now where Troy Deeney continues his search for a first win as Forest Green Rovers manager as they travel to managerless Salford City on Saturday.

Rovers began 2024 with a hard-fought point at home to a high-flying AFC Wimbledon side which saw Matty Stevens mark his 100^th league appearance with a goal inside four minutes.

That’s now two points from four games for Deeney but the performances on the pitch have seen a vast improvement.

Rovers have begun to make it harder for teams to play their styles against them but are still trying to find that ability to hang on to leads when they have them.

Saturday will look like a winnable game or a must-win for Deeney as this proves to be a real six-pointer with a win moving Rovers to within three points of safety.

Follow Sam Yapp on Twitter @SJY_Journo for more