Reds double up at Letcombe

Goals from Luke Cordery and Jack Ellis seal away victory

FAIRFORD Town kept up their side of the bargain in the Division One West promotion race with a 2-0 win at Letcombe on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors were made to work for the win, coming up against plucky opponents who had chance of their own, but goals either side of the interval sealed a valuable away victory for the Gloucestershire club.

Fairford almost took an early lead as Dan Hill’s ninth minute corner brushed the bar. Letcombe’s first real opening saw visiting ‘keeper Ben Mitchell get down smartly to deny Tom Rowe. Home stopper Joyce then turned away a testing free-kick from Steve Hall as the visitors tried to turn possession into a tangible advantage.

The pressure continued to mount on the Letcombe goal shortly before half-time, as defender James Townsend rose highest from a corner to head the ball down for Tom Ballard who fired over. The opener arrived two minutes before the break, with Ballard’s centre picking out Luke Cordery at the back post who drove the ball home for his second goal in two games.

Fairford took their advantage into the second period and Rowe spurned a good opportunity for the home side to draw level soon after the restart. Matt Boucher then went close before the Reds doubled their advantage. A simple ball through was flicked on by Nathan Gambling for substitute Jack Ellis who finished superbly to make it 2-0.

Rowe had another late opportunity but he couldn’t find the target as Fairford held on for another vital three points as they await their final league game of the campaign at home to Shortwood United’s Reserves next Saturday 9th April.

Before that is the Bluefin Sport Supplementary Cup quarter-final at Cheltenham Saracens on Monday evening, 7.45pm at Petersfield Park.

F/T: Letcombe 0 Fairford Town 2

Fairford Town: Mitchell; Hill, Dainton, Townsend, Hall; Cordery, Boucher (C), Mepham, Ballard; Gambling, Lawrence-Forbes

Substitutes: Alexander (GK), Chilcott, Ellis, Hale, Roper