North Gloucestershire League Division One
Sling United 5
Rank Outsiders 0
A FIVE goal five star performance by Sling signalled what the village sides hopes will be the start of a very happy New Year for the club.
The victory brought to an end a run of indifferent performances by Sling.
"We played some very good football in what must be one of our best performances of the season," said club spokesman Geoff Nash.
Conditions were difficult as the frost came out of the ground but goals by Lewis Clutterbuck and Lee James set Sling on their way and they wrapped up a convincing win with a second goal from Clutterbuck and others from Lee May and John Virgin.
It has been a season of steady progress by both Sling's teams.
The First X1 is in a respectable mid-table position while the Second X1 is challenging strongly for promotion from Division 4.
The Second team is also hoping for further success in the Hospital Cup. They have just reached the semi-finals in the F.J. Pope Cup with a 3-1 victory over St Briavels – a competition last won by Sling in 1995/96 when they were also winners of Division 3 and the West Dean Charities Cup.
That was a memorable season for Sling, coming only a year after the club had reformed after a period of steep decline because of lack of support.
It was a start of a hugely successful run of results for the club who at that stage were playing all their 'home' games at Lydney Sports Centre.
But following successive promotions the renewed enthusiasm resulted in a new pitch being created near The Scarr Bandstand in Sling in 1998. Purpose-built showers and changing rooms were added at nearby Sling Club.
The formation of the Second X1 followed in 2000 and now both teams are striving to make Sling a force to be reckoned with in Forest football.