Altrincham
0
Slough Town
1
Owusu (77)
League
Attendance: 967
Lloyd Owusu
Slough finished this game with only ten men on the pitch, but three valuable away points in the bag. A goal from Lloyd Owusu in the 77th minute brought a victory that took Brian McDermmott's team to third place in the Conference table.
The only downside was the sending off of Gary Abbott two minutes from time after he headbutted an Altrincham defender in retaliation to a challenge. Abbott may have ended the game with a flash of temper, but he started with a flash of brilliance, a clever back heel on the edge of the box that Owusu was just unable to control.
There was another scare for Altrincham in the eighth minute, when a cross from Derek Simpson found Gary Blackford unmarked, but his volley was high. Six minutes later the same two players combined again. This time Blackford met the cross with his head but again it went over the bar.
It was a bright enough start, but by the end of the half Slough were under pressure. In the 40th minute Altrincham won a free kick on the edge of the box. Darren Heesom's shot beat the wall but was safely gathered by Paul W Wilkerson
A minute later the referee gave an indirect free kick for obstruction inside the box. Heesom's floated ball was punched out by Wilkerson only as far as Paul France, whose follow-up header was forced wide. France had another go from the resulting corner and this time beat Wilkerson but saw his header come back off the bar.
Before the half was out Wilkerson saved well from Pritchard, and Altrincham went in at the break looking the side on top. But Slough, pleased to have contained the home side in the first half, started the second brightly, and this time kept it going,
Two minutes in Abbott was clear in the box, but shot over. Owusu had a shot saved on the hour mark, and soon after was put clear by Abbott on the left but his poor shot never troubled the keeper. He made up for it just minutes later. Simon Stapleton was the provider, and although he was brought down on the edge of the box the referee played a good advantage and Owusu slotted it past the keeper.
Slough kept up the pressure and kept running at the opposition. With 10 minutes to go Garry Smart made a fine run down the right and unleashed a fierce shot that the keeper could only block, and Abbott's follow-up forced a corner. It all seemed to be going right, but there was time for a final twist with just two minutes left.
Close to the halfway line Abbott went down after clashing with Altricham defender George Shepherd, got up to launch a headbutt at Shepherd, and then went down again. He was still on the deck when the referee produced the red card.
It was too late for Altrincham to take advantage, and Slough held on for a hard-earned win.
The only downside was the sending off of Gary Abbott two minutes from time after he headbutted an Altrincham defender in retaliation to a challenge. Abbott may have ended the game with a flash of temper, but he started with a flash of brilliance, a clever back heel on the edge of the box that Owusu was just unable to control.
There was another scare for Altrincham in the eighth minute, when a cross from Derek Simpson found Gary Blackford unmarked, but his volley was high. Six minutes later the same two players combined again. This time Blackford met the cross with his head but again it went over the bar.
It was a bright enough start, but by the end of the half Slough were under pressure. In the 40th minute Altrincham won a free kick on the edge of the box. Darren Heesom's shot beat the wall but was safely gathered by Paul W Wilkerson
A minute later the referee gave an indirect free kick for obstruction inside the box. Heesom's floated ball was punched out by Wilkerson only as far as Paul France, whose follow-up header was forced wide. France had another go from the resulting corner and this time beat Wilkerson but saw his header come back off the bar.
Before the half was out Wilkerson saved well from Pritchard, and Altrincham went in at the break looking the side on top. But Slough, pleased to have contained the home side in the first half, started the second brightly, and this time kept it going,
Two minutes in Abbott was clear in the box, but shot over. Owusu had a shot saved on the hour mark, and soon after was put clear by Abbott on the left but his poor shot never troubled the keeper. He made up for it just minutes later. Simon Stapleton was the provider, and although he was brought down on the edge of the box the referee played a good advantage and Owusu slotted it past the keeper.
Slough kept up the pressure and kept running at the opposition. With 10 minutes to go Garry Smart made a fine run down the right and unleashed a fierce shot that the keeper could only block, and Abbott's follow-up forced a corner. It all seemed to be going right, but there was time for a final twist with just two minutes left.
Close to the halfway line Abbott went down after clashing with Altricham defender George Shepherd, got up to launch a headbutt at Shepherd, and then went down again. He was still on the deck when the referee produced the red card.
It was too late for Altrincham to take advantage, and Slough held on for a hard-earned win.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Paul Wilkerson
- 2 Garry Smart
- 3 Gary McGinnis
- 4 Lloyd Owusu
- 5 Andy Clement
- 6 Robert Smith
- 7 Gary Blackford
- 8 Simon Stapleton
- 9 Byron Walton
- 10 Gary Abbott
- 11 Derek Simpson
Substitutes
- 12 Mark Fiore
- 14 Gavin Mernagh
- 15 Grant Eaton