St.Nicks nick it.

Swindon Spitfires lost out 1-0 to league leaders St Nicholas, although they made the visitors work hard for their win. After an even opening St Nicks got what turned out to be the only goal of the game on 15 minutes when Jade Gamlin broke down the right and delivered what was supposed to be a cross, but it caught Spitfires’ keeper Tamsin Kellett out as it hit the near post and then the cross bar before finding the back of the net.

Spitfires pushed strongly for an equaliser and a finely crafted move involving Ria Salleh, Beth Turner and Mel Bristow ended with Emma Skinner firing just wide on 21 minutes. And a minute later Salleh could only shoot straight at Elise Soper in the visitors’ goal from an acute angle.

The closest Spitfires came to scoring was in the 38th minute when Laura Stallard made a strong run from midfield before laying the ball in to the path of Selleh whose thunderous shot on the run cannoned off the cross bar with Soper well beaten.

And a minute before the break Turner crafted another opening for Skinner but again Soper was able to parry the final shot to safety.

The second half was barely five minutes old when injury to Salleh resulted in a 20 minute delay in proceedings waiting for an ambulance to attend. Although she was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure it appears there is no lasting damage and she hopes to be playing again next week.

After the restart Spitfires again found the woodwork in the way as Sammie Smith’s 54th minute corner hit the near post. But with Salleh out of the picture Spitfires threat was all but diminished. The visitors had a couple of chances to add to their tally but were unable to keep their shots down and the remainder of the game was again fairly even.

The win increased St Nicks lead at the top to four points with second placed Truro dropping two points at Cleeve, while Spitfires remain in third spot despite the defeat.