Smith and Mpi on target to beat Waders

Slough Town

Slough Town

2
Smith (63), Mpi (71)
Biggleswade Town

Biggleswade Town

0
League Attendance: 242 Guy Hollis
Eddie Smith emerged from the bench in the second half and scored within three minutes, with Charlie Mpi adding a second to confirm a deserved three points for Slough over the visiting Biggleswade Town.

After an even opening ten minutes, Slough started to exert their dominance on the match and forced a number of corners which were dealt with well. Biggleswade goalkeeper Ian Brown's first save of the game prevented an own goal from defender Zach Tyrrell after the defender stretched to meet Lewis Putman's dangerous cross.

A minute later, Dan Hicks was left completely unmarked in the penalty area as Guy Hollis put in a long throw, but the Rebels' skipper headed well wide.

Slough continued to press, and Jhai Dhillon, who linked up cleverly with Putman on a number of occasions, showed great skill to beat Max York before putting in a low cross which was cleared behind.

Another good move down Slough's left side resulted in Warren Harris half-volleying over the bar.

In a rare attack, Waders striker Inih Effiong showed his strength as he got past Hicks, but shot inches wide from a tight angle. Minutes later, Shane Hill struck an ambitious volley from distance which Mark Scott gathered comfortably.

The visitors, already denied a number of players through injury, had another problem to contend with shortly before the interval, with centre-back Gavin Hoyte forced off injured. Before the whistle, Slough had another good chance to take the lead as Dhillon clipped an accurate pass through for Charlie Strutton to run on to, and he aimed for the bottom corner but saw his shot hit the outside of the post.

Slough were forced into a reshuffle of their own early in the second half as the impressive Dhillon suffered a hamstring injury. Justin Clayton replaced him, with Sean Fraser switching to left-back and Guy Hollis to right-back.

The change did not seem to adversely affect Slough, who still enjoyed far the better of the play but were unable to get on the score sheet. That was until the 61st minute, when Smith was introduced in place of Strutton. Two minutes later, the Slough striker had scored his second goal of an injury-hit season.

Smith burst past York and did well to bring the ball into the six yard box, before getting in a shot which Brown saved. The rebound however was snapped up by Smith, who placed the ball into the back of the net to put Slough on the way to maximum points.

Eight minutes later, Charlie Mpi found himself completely unmarked to power a header through the hands of Brown from Putman's corner kick, and the points were all but sealed.

The Rebels had finally made their pressure count, and went on to play some neat attacking football as Biggleswade struggled to create chances. Slough were denied a penalty as Mpi looked to have been fouled on the edge of the box, and the home side went close to a third, but Brown was able to grab the ball after Harris' shot deflected up into the air.

Late on, the Waders went close with a header at the back post, and Sam Merson put a header over the bar, but there was to be no sign of a comeback.

Biggleswade Town Lineup

Ian Brown, Max York, Michael King, Shane Hill, Gavin Hoyte, Zach Tyrrell, Craig Daniel (c), Ian Rees, Inih Effiong, Sam Merson, Tony Burnett. Subs: Lee Northfield, Chris Marsh, Josh Holmes, Lewis Hilliard, Lee Allinson.

Rebels

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