Kidderminster Harriers
0
Slough Town
1
Stowell (12)
League
Attendance: 1709
Matt Stowell
Matt Stowell scored the only goal as Slough won their final Conference match before expulsion and a summer of uncertainty.
Stowell’s 12th minute effort was enough to ensure the Rebels of eighth place in the Conference at Aggborough – their final tally of 64 points bettered only once in the seven seasons at this level.
The Rebels finished on an upbeat, victories against Stalybridge Celtic and Kidderminster producing five goals and two clean sheets.
While McDermott may have had his work cut out to find the motivation after the Trophy disappointment at Southport, his side produced the sort of dogged determination at Kidderminster which has earned them respect this season.
The Rebels survived an early scare when good work by Lilwall and Deakin set up Paul Davies for a shot which cannoned off the crossbar. But Kiddie keeper Darren Steadman was soon in the thick of an angry reaction.
He made saves from Mark West – who was substituted after eight minutes following a hamstring pull – Gary Brazil and Cliff Hercules before Stowell struck his second goal of the season.
Steadman pushed Hercules’ shot onto the bar and Bolt’s corner reached Stowell who smashed a right foot shot from over 25 yards out into the top corner.
But the early pace subsided with neither side threatening to score until just before the break when Tony Robinson looked like equalising after beating three players but ended putting his shot wide.
Slough’s best chance of extending their lead came in the 74th minute when Steadman lost the ball outside his area. Bolt was on it like a flash, but watched his shot from 30 yards roll just wide of an empty net.
When Robinson looked like he was going all the way again two minutes later, a crisp saving tackle from Rob Smith snuffed out the danger. Hercules showed he hasn’t lost the taste for goals when sent away by Rebels keeper Paul Wilkerson with a long throw. Good interplay with Brazil allowed the former Aylesbury striker a shot which flew just over the mark.
Slough’s top scorer Gary Abbott also looked set to finish on a high note when given an opportunity by Brazil five minutes from time and only a flying save from Steadman denied him his 17th goal of the season.
Stowell’s 12th minute effort was enough to ensure the Rebels of eighth place in the Conference at Aggborough – their final tally of 64 points bettered only once in the seven seasons at this level.
The Rebels finished on an upbeat, victories against Stalybridge Celtic and Kidderminster producing five goals and two clean sheets.
While McDermott may have had his work cut out to find the motivation after the Trophy disappointment at Southport, his side produced the sort of dogged determination at Kidderminster which has earned them respect this season.
The Rebels survived an early scare when good work by Lilwall and Deakin set up Paul Davies for a shot which cannoned off the crossbar. But Kiddie keeper Darren Steadman was soon in the thick of an angry reaction.
He made saves from Mark West – who was substituted after eight minutes following a hamstring pull – Gary Brazil and Cliff Hercules before Stowell struck his second goal of the season.
Steadman pushed Hercules’ shot onto the bar and Bolt’s corner reached Stowell who smashed a right foot shot from over 25 yards out into the top corner.
But the early pace subsided with neither side threatening to score until just before the break when Tony Robinson looked like equalising after beating three players but ended putting his shot wide.
Slough’s best chance of extending their lead came in the 74th minute when Steadman lost the ball outside his area. Bolt was on it like a flash, but watched his shot from 30 yards roll just wide of an empty net.
When Robinson looked like he was going all the way again two minutes later, a crisp saving tackle from Rob Smith snuffed out the danger. Hercules showed he hasn’t lost the taste for goals when sent away by Rebels keeper Paul Wilkerson with a long throw. Good interplay with Brazil allowed the former Aylesbury striker a shot which flew just over the mark.
Slough’s top scorer Gary Abbott also looked set to finish on a high note when given an opportunity by Brazil five minutes from time and only a flying save from Steadman denied him his 17th goal of the season.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Paul Wilkerson
- 2 Garry Smart
- 3 Paul Hardyman
- 4 Gary McGinnis
- 5 Cliff Hercules
- 6 Terry Angus
- 7 Matt Stowell
- 8 Mark West 12
- 9 Gary Brazil
- 10 Robert Smith
- 11 Danny Bolt
Substitutes
- 12 Gary Abbott 8
- 14 Corey Browne
- 15 Danny Bailey