Martin & Edgeworth goals help send Rebels through

Slough Town

Slough Town

2
Martin (5), Edgeworth (20)
Hemel Hempstead Town

Hemel Hempstead Town

1
Matthew McEntegart (48)
FA Cup Attendance: 249 Simon Martin
First-half goals from striker Simon Martin and skipper Paul Edgeworth helped the Rebels progress in the FA Cup with victory over Hemel.

After the last-gasp equaliser at Hemel on Saturday, Slough manager Steve Bateman rotated his strikers, bringing in Elliot Buchanan and Simon Martin for Danny Jordan and Tommy Hayes.

The Rebels started the replay at a great tempo, and took the lead after just five minutes. A quick free-kick found Buchanan on the left, and his drilled cross was met powerfully by the head of Martin, giving Hasell in the Hemel goal no time to react as the ball hit the back of the net.

With Slough firmly in the ascendancy in with the windy conditions in their favour, a second goal looked likely, and Buchanan’s header was well saved by Hasell before Sinclair was also denied by the ‘keeper’s legs.

Hemel then went close as Leon Soloman was given time to fire an effort from distance which was parried by Jackson, with Sam Youngs firing the rebound over at the far post.

With twenty minutes played, Slough doubled their lead through Paul Edgeworth, the Rebels skipper drilling a low effort from 20 yards into the bottom corner.

The Slough faithful sensed that more goals were necessary to give the hosts some breathing space, and Danny Murphy’s fierce drive from 25 yards was beaten wide by Hasell, with Buchanan heading just wide from the corner.

Whilst Slough were having by far the better of the chances, Hemel looked dangerous whenever they could get forward, and Adam Bernard missed a great chance, failing to make contact from a right wing cross.

Hasell then made a fantastic save to turn a long-range effort from Martin over the bar, and was thankful for Danny May for clearing another Steve Sinclair effort off the line as Slough poured forward.

Just before the break, Hemel demonstrated their threat again as Jake Gilbert hit the post with Jackson beaten.

The second half was set up nicely with a goal on 48 minutes from Matthew McEntegart. Jamie Jackson flapped at a corner, and the defender was on hand to poke the ball into the net from six yards.

With Slough enjoying so much of the first half, the boot was now firmly on the other foot as Hemel controlled the game against a nervous-looking Rebels side, without creating too many clear-cut chances.

Slough were restricted mainly to counter-attacks, and Sinclair shot wide following a long run, and Buchanan blasted a volley wide in another rare attack.

A long-range free kick was pushed wide by Jackson as Slough held on, and after heavy late pressure including a vital block from a Danny May cross-shot, the final whistle was greeted with relief as the Rebels’ progress into the Second Qualifying Round was confirmed.

Hemel Hempstead Town Lineup

Hasell, May, Soloman, Yeboah, Matthew McEntegart (c), Gilbert, Higgins, Webb, Bernard, Hilliard, Youngs. Subs: Peagram, Akers, Doyle, Kamaran, Blake, Williams, Mike McEntegart.

Rebels

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