Southall
0
Slough Town
3
Russell (8), Somers (12, 43)
League
Terry Reardon
IT SEEMS that Slough Town manager Joe Arpino's nightmare is over.
After losing 10 of their first 15 Isthmian League matches, Slough have now scored seven goals in winning their last two, and by beating Southall on Monday they climbed clear of the relegation zone (writes Tony Flood).
After scoring twice in the first 12 minutes Slough merely went through the motions for most of the game against opponents who look certain to be relegated.
But Mr. Arpino said: “I was very pleased. The wind made it difficult for the players and Southall's ground is a dismal place without any atmosphere. It's the first time under my management that we have won here.”
The impressive full-back play of Roger Mackay and Alan Gane and the midfield dominance of Terry Reardon put Slough firmly in control. But I have my doubts whether the experiment to play winger Dave Russell in midfield will succeed because neither he nor Barry Friend won the ball often enough.
Slough, showing renewed confidence, were rewarded with an eighth minute goal following a free kick by Gane. Russell got in a snap shot which was deflected past diving keeper Goddard.
Four minutes later it was 2-0. The Southall defence was opened up by Lee and Friend, and although Somers was slow to control the ball, left-back Hutchings allowed him enough time to slide it home.
These two early goals settled the game and the rest of the first half was uneventful as Slough sat back in their laurels and a poor Southall side struggled to make an impression. The only time Southall looked like scoring was when O'Driscoll nodded down for Knowles to volley just over.
Then two minutes before half time Slough struck again. Feely left keeper Goddard floundering and Somers forced the ball in.
Early in the second-half Somers had two chances to complete a hat-trick but was too slow, and Goddard foiled him on each occasion.
Southall were then allowed to mount a few counter attacks and it was only after a couple of let offs that Slough again took control, with Friend and Mackay bringing great saves from Goddard.
After losing 10 of their first 15 Isthmian League matches, Slough have now scored seven goals in winning their last two, and by beating Southall on Monday they climbed clear of the relegation zone (writes Tony Flood).
After scoring twice in the first 12 minutes Slough merely went through the motions for most of the game against opponents who look certain to be relegated.
But Mr. Arpino said: “I was very pleased. The wind made it difficult for the players and Southall's ground is a dismal place without any atmosphere. It's the first time under my management that we have won here.”
The impressive full-back play of Roger Mackay and Alan Gane and the midfield dominance of Terry Reardon put Slough firmly in control. But I have my doubts whether the experiment to play winger Dave Russell in midfield will succeed because neither he nor Barry Friend won the ball often enough.
Slough, showing renewed confidence, were rewarded with an eighth minute goal following a free kick by Gane. Russell got in a snap shot which was deflected past diving keeper Goddard.
Four minutes later it was 2-0. The Southall defence was opened up by Lee and Friend, and although Somers was slow to control the ball, left-back Hutchings allowed him enough time to slide it home.
These two early goals settled the game and the rest of the first half was uneventful as Slough sat back in their laurels and a poor Southall side struggled to make an impression. The only time Southall looked like scoring was when O'Driscoll nodded down for Knowles to volley just over.
Then two minutes before half time Slough struck again. Feely left keeper Goddard floundering and Somers forced the ball in.
Early in the second-half Somers had two chances to complete a hat-trick but was too slow, and Goddard foiled him on each occasion.
Southall were then allowed to mount a few counter attacks and it was only after a couple of let offs that Slough again took control, with Friend and Mackay bringing great saves from Goddard.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Trevor Porter
- 2 Roger Mackay
- 3 Alan Gane
- 4 Terry Reardon
- 5 Tim Turl
- 6 Phil Beal
- 7 Dave Russell
- 8 Peter Feely
- 9 Paul Lee
- 10 Barry Friend
- 11 Kieron Somers
Substitutes
- 12 Ian Cooke