Clinical Spill seals title for Dursley U18s during hard fought victory over Slimbridge U18s
Joey Spill’s second half punishing strike saw Dursley Town U18s crowned the Cheltenham Youth Floodlit League South champions defeating Slimbridge U18s 1-0, writes Sam Yapp.
Dursley needed just a point to be crowned champions, but Spill’s strike saw his side pip Bishops Cleeve U18s to the title at Thornhill Park, with a game to spare, on Tuesday night.
Slimbridge suffered just their second home defeat of the season in a game that saw their 2024/25 campaign come to an end.
In a first half that saw minimal goal mouth action Dursley went closest twice through James Tainton who saw a distanced effort well held on five minutes before he poked a volley over the bar on 17 minutes.
Slimbridge did grow into the half and their best chance came on 33 minutes when Kieran Bennett struck an effort from distance, which dipped right in front of Dursley goalkeeper, Matt Adkins but he was down well to beat it away.
It headed goalless into half time and Dursley almost gained the lead four minutes into the second period but Alfie Poskett’s freekick cannoned back off the bar.
Alfie Poskett went close for Dursley on 56 minutes when he met a deep corner but could only divert his header straight at Kieran Winstone in the Slimbridge goal.
Dursley finally broke the deadlock on 71 minutes when, after the Slimbridge defence failed to cut out a through ball, Joey Spill was sent free on goal before coolly picking out the bottom corner from close range.
Slimbridge came close to equalising on 83 minutes when Bennett met a deep cross but could only put his header just over the bar, but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat.
Dursley conclude their league season next Thursday when they travel to Fairford Town U18s.
Line-ups:
Slimbridge U18s: Winstone (GK), Anderson (Champion 63’), Wayman, Djiaha-Nsangou, Whitehead (Barclay 74’), Jagger ©, Bean, Wasley, Bennett, Fowler, Harris (Howarth 58’)
Unused subs: Parker-Delves
Dursley Town U18s: Adkins (GK), Freeman, Thomas, Lewis, B. Mann ©, Poskett, Tainton, Spill (Price 90+2’), J. Hogg (Weyman 67’), Browne
Unused subs: Jones, Stones
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Alfie Poskett (Dursley Town U18s)
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