Slough Town
3
Angus (1-1), Bolt (2-1), Abbott (3-1)
Stevenage Borough
1
Solomon (54)
League
Attendance: 828
Unknown
On Sunday evening the Rebels were down, but on Tuesday evening they were up again, and played the disappointment of their FA trophy exit out of their systems with a wonderful display of passing football and three well-taken goals.
From the word go it was clear Slough had one thing in mind — to bounce back from their semi-final defeat and not dwell on their misfortune. Stevenage, always an attractive side to watch, played their part too, as both sides kept the ball down and kept the game flowing.
The first half was goalless, although with better finishing from Dean Wordsworth Borough could have taken a two goal lead. Good battling in midfield, particularly from Danny Bailey and Gary Brazil, ensured plenty of action around the Stevenage box, and chances began to flow for the Rebels too.
On 19 minutes Brazil's shot after he had been found unmarked on the edge of the area was deflected away for a corner, and minutes later a good run from Matthew Stowell ended with a well-struck shot that ran across the face of goal.
Wordsworth's first miss came just before the half-hour mark, when a rare mistake by Gary McGinnis allowed him a free run on goal but he failed to even force a save from Paul Wilkerson and his shot was wide.
Three minutes later Danny Bolt's curler from the edge of the area was deflected and came back off the post — Gary Abbott was there for the rebound but the ball reared up at him too quickly and he volleyed over the bar from close range.
And Slough kept up the pressure up until the halftime whistle, although they were caught out once again by Wordsworth on the break — this time as he was one-on-one he rolled his shot straight at Wilkerson.
That pressure kept up in the second half, with Matthew Stowell, in for the injured Paul Hardyman, now being pushed forward at every opportunity, but nine minutes in Slough found themselves behind when Jason Solomon tried his luck from the edge of the area and the ball found a way through the defence and in.
It was a blow for Slough, but maybe just the spur they needed.
Within minutes Corey Browne, Danny Bolt and Garry Smart had all had good efforts on goal, and just after the hour mark Slough forced three successive corners. And as Bolt swung the third one in, Borough keeper Richard Wilmot came for it and dropped it. and the ball was bundled home for the equaliser, Terry Angus getting the last touch.
Eight minutes later it was 2-1, as Wilmot's clearance was sent straight back in and some excellent control by Brazil allowed him to feed Bolt who slotted it in.
The third came five minutes later and was the pick of the bunch. Smart made the run down the right and squared to Browne, whose clever' flick set up Abbott for a stinging shot on the turn that rifled past Wilmot.
A triple substitution by the visitors could not turn the tide — the win was just too important for the Rebels and the smiles on the players' faces as they left the pitch showed the gloom had been lifted.
From the word go it was clear Slough had one thing in mind — to bounce back from their semi-final defeat and not dwell on their misfortune. Stevenage, always an attractive side to watch, played their part too, as both sides kept the ball down and kept the game flowing.
The first half was goalless, although with better finishing from Dean Wordsworth Borough could have taken a two goal lead. Good battling in midfield, particularly from Danny Bailey and Gary Brazil, ensured plenty of action around the Stevenage box, and chances began to flow for the Rebels too.
On 19 minutes Brazil's shot after he had been found unmarked on the edge of the area was deflected away for a corner, and minutes later a good run from Matthew Stowell ended with a well-struck shot that ran across the face of goal.
Wordsworth's first miss came just before the half-hour mark, when a rare mistake by Gary McGinnis allowed him a free run on goal but he failed to even force a save from Paul Wilkerson and his shot was wide.
Three minutes later Danny Bolt's curler from the edge of the area was deflected and came back off the post — Gary Abbott was there for the rebound but the ball reared up at him too quickly and he volleyed over the bar from close range.
And Slough kept up the pressure up until the halftime whistle, although they were caught out once again by Wordsworth on the break — this time as he was one-on-one he rolled his shot straight at Wilkerson.
That pressure kept up in the second half, with Matthew Stowell, in for the injured Paul Hardyman, now being pushed forward at every opportunity, but nine minutes in Slough found themselves behind when Jason Solomon tried his luck from the edge of the area and the ball found a way through the defence and in.
It was a blow for Slough, but maybe just the spur they needed.
Within minutes Corey Browne, Danny Bolt and Garry Smart had all had good efforts on goal, and just after the hour mark Slough forced three successive corners. And as Bolt swung the third one in, Borough keeper Richard Wilmot came for it and dropped it. and the ball was bundled home for the equaliser, Terry Angus getting the last touch.
Eight minutes later it was 2-1, as Wilmot's clearance was sent straight back in and some excellent control by Brazil allowed him to feed Bolt who slotted it in.
The third came five minutes later and was the pick of the bunch. Smart made the run down the right and squared to Browne, whose clever' flick set up Abbott for a stinging shot on the turn that rifled past Wilmot.
A triple substitution by the visitors could not turn the tide — the win was just too important for the Rebels and the smiles on the players' faces as they left the pitch showed the gloom had been lifted.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Paul Wilkerson
- 2 Garry Smart
- 3 Matt Stowell
- 4 Gary McGinnis
- 5 Cliff Hercules
- 6 Terry Angus
- 7 Danny Bailey
- 8 Corey Browne
- 9 Gary Brazil
- 10 Gary Abbott
- 11 Danny Bolt
Substitutes
- 12 Mark West
- 14 Lloyd Owusu
- 15 Robert Smith