Leytonstone Ilford
1
Simmonds (1-0)
Slough Town
0
League
A second half winner by Joe Simmonds did little for the Rebels' ego at Walthamstow on Saturday in a tough top-of-the-table clash with the Stones.
Leytonstone's narrow victory cut VOL leaders Farnborough's grip on the title to just four points as they went down to a shock 3-0 home defeat against Kingstonian with Stortford going down 2-1 at home to Wokingham - Slough's chance to close in on the title favourites slipped through their fingers.
Ironically, ex-Slough striker Jimmy Brown grabbed two goals while the Rebels dominated the match at Walthamstow only to see a first half goal by Mark Adams disallowed.
But the topsy turvy results are a sharp reminder of how the league seems still wide open, despite the harsh realities of Slough struggling to put the ball in the net. Slough boss Alan Davies said " We deserved more at Hendon and Leytonstone/ Ilford where our first half performance was creditable.
Obviously people say that we need a natural goal scorer as we just haven't been taking our chances and we're at the situation where you know you need players. But strikers are being quoted at 7,000 pounds when they become available because the frustration of it all is that you have to improve on the quality that you've already got. "
Brown was lured by big money made available at Kingstonian and proved lethal at Cherrywood Road, but even he had been without a goal since December 10th, only recently regaining his scoring touch again against Barking and Farnborough.
Similarly, Neal Stanley has struggled to find his finishing touch since the game at St Albans only scoring three in two games against Burnham and Bromley in recent weeks- another striker going through a difficult spell. Davies maintains that the goals must come as Slough can move out of a barren spell in the league with Saturday's home match against Croydon, Tuesday away at Grays and the following Saturday at Marlow.
"Grays will be tough" he says "but Leytonstone face a stiffer late fixture list with two games against Farnborough and three matches away at Bishop's Stortford, Carshalton and Hendon."
Farnborough's Simon Read may just slip off the boil as Farnborough's 16 match unbeaten league run came to a sudden jolt at home to Kingstonian - judging by Slough's pre-Christmas form, it seems anything can happen to change the tide.
Leytonstone's narrow victory cut VOL leaders Farnborough's grip on the title to just four points as they went down to a shock 3-0 home defeat against Kingstonian with Stortford going down 2-1 at home to Wokingham - Slough's chance to close in on the title favourites slipped through their fingers.
Ironically, ex-Slough striker Jimmy Brown grabbed two goals while the Rebels dominated the match at Walthamstow only to see a first half goal by Mark Adams disallowed.
But the topsy turvy results are a sharp reminder of how the league seems still wide open, despite the harsh realities of Slough struggling to put the ball in the net. Slough boss Alan Davies said " We deserved more at Hendon and Leytonstone/ Ilford where our first half performance was creditable.
Obviously people say that we need a natural goal scorer as we just haven't been taking our chances and we're at the situation where you know you need players. But strikers are being quoted at 7,000 pounds when they become available because the frustration of it all is that you have to improve on the quality that you've already got. "
Brown was lured by big money made available at Kingstonian and proved lethal at Cherrywood Road, but even he had been without a goal since December 10th, only recently regaining his scoring touch again against Barking and Farnborough.
Similarly, Neal Stanley has struggled to find his finishing touch since the game at St Albans only scoring three in two games against Burnham and Bromley in recent weeks- another striker going through a difficult spell. Davies maintains that the goals must come as Slough can move out of a barren spell in the league with Saturday's home match against Croydon, Tuesday away at Grays and the following Saturday at Marlow.
"Grays will be tough" he says "but Leytonstone face a stiffer late fixture list with two games against Farnborough and three matches away at Bishop's Stortford, Carshalton and Hendon."
Farnborough's Simon Read may just slip off the boil as Farnborough's 16 match unbeaten league run came to a sudden jolt at home to Kingstonian - judging by Slough's pre-Christmas form, it seems anything can happen to change the tide.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Gary Lester
- 2 Ray Duffy
- 3 Keith White
- 4 Tony Knight
- 5 Jeff Bateman
- 6 Trevor How
- 7 Brian Greenaway
- 8 Gary Dodd
- 9 Mark Adams
- 10 Steve Thompson
- 11 Tony Dennis
Substitutes
- 12 Neal Stanley
- 14 Paul Waites