Disappointing end to season

Slough Town's season came to an end on a low key when they fell by the only goal of the match at Champion Hill on Saturday.

The end of the season has brought some very mixed results, but the chance of gaining at least fifth place in a league campaign that started so well for them disappeared in the 11th minute of the game, when Kim Connett scored the only goal, and Slough had Frank Parsons to thank for the fact that they were not entirely overwhelmed.

This was the Rebels ninth odd goal defeat in the eleven losses that they had suffered in the championship race, and it suggests that many of the matches could have in fact been turned in their favour.

However, in recent weeks the midfield has been so ineffective that Slough's strikers have received scant service, and it is remarkable that both Rowan Dodds with 29 and Gary Attrell with 15 have managed to score so many vital goals.

The young Slough supporters travelled fully believing that their favourites could win the match, and as it was the last game of the season arrived in fancy dress to add a little colour to the scene.

Slough took the field without Joe Moloney who was feeling unwell, and their hastily shuffled defence looked uneasy as Hamlet attacked from the start.

In fact the Rebels had scarcely crossed the half-way line when the home side took the lead following a refereeing error. Duncan Bassett fell over Dave Yerby's legs after the ball was cleared.

Martin Coates took the resulting free-kick which floated through the Slough defence to the unmarked Connett who headed past Parsons from close range.

Within minutes Parsons made a terrific full-length save from Gary Foley, and again from Connett as Slough strove to contain the Dulwich attack. In the 27th minute Simon Delahunty delivered the first serious shot from Slough following a corner, but this was well wide of the target.

The Rebels tried to put things together but the appalling pitch was not well suited to their closely controlled style, and time and time again they ran into trouble.

In the second half with the wind at their backs Slough came more into the game without ever looking likely to equalise and secure the £250 for fifth place in the table.

One good move saw Dylan Evans shoot wide, and Dodds set up Francis Araguez with what seemed a simple chance, but the ball bounced wildly behind him as he shaped to shoot.

At the other end Parsons saved with his legs from Bassett, and Tony Doherty dived across the goal to head Gary Foley's shot off the line after Parsons had foiled Martin Coates at full stretch.

And so the game slowly died, and as the Slough fans sang "You only sing when you're losing" the season sank to a disappointing end for the Rebels, a season that started with so much promise.