Trowbridge Town faced the daunting task of travelling to Hellenic League Division One West high flyers Lydney Town on Tuesday evening without Paul Beavers (illness), Nick Mead (left for Westbury), Mark Hunt (suspension), Rob Taylor (Holiday) and captain Bobby Mitchell (work commitments).

Trowbridge Manager Allan Clarke decided to use the match to blood a few youngsters into the first team squad, with Kieran Mccaldon, Brad Whitham, Lewis Smith, Chad Cain and Aaron McCaldon all making the long trip across the bridge.

The starting XI included youngsters Kieran McCaldon, Brad Whitham and Lewis Smith - the latter two making their first starts for the club.

Dave Gray was also making his return to the first team squad after injury, and was making his first start for the Bees.

The match started slowly, with both sides failing to make much of an impression, but Lydney definitely having the largest share of possession.

This changed when Jamie Croydon burst forwards from right-back.

Croydon spotted the keeper off his line and hammered in a great 35 yard shot from wide right, leaving the Lydney keeper with no chance.

The hosts then raised their game and started to put some pressure onto the Trowbridge defence, which seemed to be coping with everything Lydney could throw at them, marshalled well by Adam Glover.

Clarke's side then got on top of their game, keeping the ball well and creating chances, with Gray unlucky with a couple of efforts not to add to Croydons earlier thunderbolt.

Another slick move with the ball being played out of defence well by Trowbridge, led to youngster Lewis Smith attacking the space infront of him.

He then slid a delightful through ball to Paul Gittins, who was hauled down in the box.

Gittins picked himself up to hammer home the penalty, giving Trowbridge a commanding lead.

Clarke's men dominated the game until half-time, keeping the ball well.

A fired-up Lydney came out for the second-half looking a different side to the one in the first period.

Following a challenge by manager Clarke, Lydney's Danny Gittings reacted by kicking out, earning himself a red card and leaving his side to play the remaining 40 minutes with 10 men.

Lydney seemed to adapt better than Trowbridge, and the impressive Jarred Liddington pulled a goal back.

This woke Trowbridge up, with Glover rallying the team to get them back to the hard work they had showed so well in the first-half.

Shortly afterwards, Nathan Taylor made a brave stop, diving at the feet of Niall Halford to deny the striker from levelling the scores.

Trowbridge then had their best spell of the second-half.

Croydon again burst down the right-hand side from right-back and unleashed a shot that went just over the crossbar.

Neil Grant won a free-kick, and swung a dangerous ball into the box which Croydon flicked on into the net, but the goal was chalked off as Croydon was deemed to have been in an offside position.

Minutes later, the tireless Grant burst forward once more and slid the ball through for Gittins who slotted the ball past the Lydney keeper, but again, the goal was disallowed for offside.

Trowbridge continued to create chances as David Gray flew down the right flank and whipped in a delightful cross from the by-line which found Lewis Smith at the far post.

Unfortunately his shot went narrowly over from six yards.

Trowbridge started to tire, and their back four was dropping deeper and deeper to invite Lydney onto them.

To help combat this, Aaron McCaldon was brought on to replace his younger brother Kieran, and Chad Cain came on to replace Dave Gray.

Both players had run themselves into the ground, and can be more than impressed with their efforts.

Lydney continued to press, but Trowbridge's back four remained strong, and didn't allow anything through.

Cain had a great chance in the dying minutes to settle the tie, but failed to convert with only the keeper to beat, sliding the ball just wide of the post.

Trowbridge manager Clarke, who was delighted with his team’s performance, work rate and commitment said: “The lads put in a great shift tonight on a really heavy pitch.

"The young lads that came in have put real pressure on the boys who have been playing for the first team so far this season.

"They will be involved a lot more as the season goes on and it really bodes well for the future of Trowbridge Town.

"Hopefully we can carry this spirit and commitment into Saturday.”

REACTION AND REPORTS IN THIS FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES