Slough Town
1
Strong (81)
Sutton United
0
League
Richard Strong
Teenage defender Richard Strong scored his first goal for Slough Town on Saturday to give them their first home Isthmian League win this season. But apart from Strong's 81st minute winner it was an uninspired and sometimes listless performance from Slough.
Admittedly, Slough were without the injured Mick Kiely, Tim Turl and Terry Reardon in addition to Barrie Friend who is still in Canada and Peter Feely who is not expected back from Hong Kong until the end of this month. But ex-Aldershot reserve Mark Foster, who was called into action in mid-field, gave an adequate display.
Unfortunately, Dave Russell, so often Slough's main inspiration, was off form and Paul Lee was nowhere near his best, either.
The first-half provided little excitement and a lot of scrappy football. Sutton were the major offenders and they failed to trouble keeper Richard Teale even once but seemed more content to pass back to their own goalkeeper David Collyer.
Collyer, who played for Slough at the start of last season, made the first save of the afternoon when he did well to stop an Alan Gane free-kick in the 20th minute.
But the Sutton keeper was lucky not to be beaten five minutes before half-time when Barry Metcalfe, blessed with more ball control than his six foot plus frame suggests, rounded one defender and sliced a pass across the face of the goal. Russell charged in at the far post, seemed to be nudged by a defender, and just failed to touch the ball into an empty net.
Teale showed that he was sharp and alert despite a severe lack of activity by stopping a fierce drive from Norman Milne in the 46th minute. Seconds later Collyer only just blocked a Lee shot at the near post with his legs. When Sutton counter attacked Teale was again called into action. He saved at the feet of Mick Joyce after Strong had been too easily beaten by a Gary Fraser pass.
Then nine minutes from time Strong gave the game a much needed lift. Ian Cooke took a corner on the left and the young centre-back was unchallenged as he headed in off the far post. It was a goal that Slough definitely deserved - there was no doubting their superiority during the match - and it gave them an extra impetus for the remaining minutes. They had certainly given a well organised, if often dull, performance.
Admittedly, Slough were without the injured Mick Kiely, Tim Turl and Terry Reardon in addition to Barrie Friend who is still in Canada and Peter Feely who is not expected back from Hong Kong until the end of this month. But ex-Aldershot reserve Mark Foster, who was called into action in mid-field, gave an adequate display.
Unfortunately, Dave Russell, so often Slough's main inspiration, was off form and Paul Lee was nowhere near his best, either.
The first-half provided little excitement and a lot of scrappy football. Sutton were the major offenders and they failed to trouble keeper Richard Teale even once but seemed more content to pass back to their own goalkeeper David Collyer.
Collyer, who played for Slough at the start of last season, made the first save of the afternoon when he did well to stop an Alan Gane free-kick in the 20th minute.
But the Sutton keeper was lucky not to be beaten five minutes before half-time when Barry Metcalfe, blessed with more ball control than his six foot plus frame suggests, rounded one defender and sliced a pass across the face of the goal. Russell charged in at the far post, seemed to be nudged by a defender, and just failed to touch the ball into an empty net.
Teale showed that he was sharp and alert despite a severe lack of activity by stopping a fierce drive from Norman Milne in the 46th minute. Seconds later Collyer only just blocked a Lee shot at the near post with his legs. When Sutton counter attacked Teale was again called into action. He saved at the feet of Mick Joyce after Strong had been too easily beaten by a Gary Fraser pass.
Then nine minutes from time Strong gave the game a much needed lift. Ian Cooke took a corner on the left and the young centre-back was unchallenged as he headed in off the far post. It was a goal that Slough definitely deserved - there was no doubting their superiority during the match - and it gave them an extra impetus for the remaining minutes. They had certainly given a well organised, if often dull, performance.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Richard Teale
- 2 Roger Mackay
- 3 Bob Underwood
- 4 Ian Cooke
- 5 Richard Strong
- 6 John Beyer
- 7 Barry Metcalfe
- 8 Alan Gane
- 9 Paul Lee
- 10 Mark Foster
- 11 Dave Russell
Substitutes
- 12 Micky Cumber