Slough Town
2
Hammatt (33), Quail (64)
Bromley
1
Wordsworth (80)
League
Unknown
Slough ended their helter skelter season with a win over relegated Bromley on Saturday to finish in 11th place in the table and give hope to the fans for something better to come next term. But the match owed most of its excitement to the visitors who, roared on by their vociferous fans, played with more urgency in their determination to try not to finish on the bottom.
In midfield, the Rebels certainly missed the injured Mark Hall and Paul Barrowcliff as big holes appeared on the right flank. Steve Brown and Simon Line were noticeable for their absence in that area when support was needed for the front men, especially as most of the early attacks came down the right.
But it was from the left that both goals - one in each half emanated from, with superb deliveries in from Micky Engwell. Slough did start brightly and good early moves promised good things to come. The first after two minutes saw Bryan Hammatt collect the ball in the right corner. He turned beautifully and passed inside to Dean Samuels, who also showed thoughtful control as he turned and slipped the ball along to Eddie Denton, but the midfielder's shot was not powerful enough to beat the keeper. A move worth of a goal, though.
Bromley came more into it and played with good accurate passing and penetrating crosses that belied their lowly position. Paul Wilkerson was called into action with a save as one good cross was headed down towards goal.
Slough's early rhythmn started to fade and they showed little in keeping possession nor making the ball do the work on a warm afternoon. Bromley forced another diving save from Wilkerson as No 11 drove a shot in which was deflected off a defender.
Lee Francis found his way into the referee's book on 30 minutes, having twice been pulled up for fouls ten minutes earlier.
But three minutes later, Slough took the lead with a well executed goal. Engwell was finally given a ball for him to run down the left and his superb deep cross found Hammatt unmarked at the back post and the striker took his chance with a well directed header.
The next minute, Engwell again threatened with another fine cross but this time the ball was cleared by a defender. Shortly after, a strange lapse of concentration from Graham Kemp allowed No 10 to take the ball off him and with only Wilkerson to beat managed to send it wide for a let-off for Slough.
Although Kemp may have taken his eye off the ball, it was the previous passing that led to the chance as the players' poor first touches put several of them under unnecessary pressure.
Slough began the second half seemingly more determined and injected more pace into their passing. Within minutes Denton could not continue and Lee Endersby came on as replacement. He started well, with some good exchanges with Hammatt. But Endersby's old habit of hanging on to the ball too long saw several opportunities come to nothing.
On 64 minutes, a change of strikers was delivered as Hammatt and Samuels were replaced by Andrew Deaner and Simon Quail. The pairing soon made their mark as a minute later Slough doubled their lead. An Engwell corner found Steve Brown who drove the ball in low. It was flicked on by Deaner to Quail who cleverly backheeled it into the net.
Frustrations set in for Bromley who had three players booked in three minutes to add to one earlier. Mark Pye was also shown a yellow card when unnecessarily winding up a player which led to a bout of handbags.
Bromley pulled one back on 80 minutes when a long ball found Dean Wordsworth unmarked, he took the ball wide around Wilkerson and hit it home.
The last ten minutes Bromley were roared on by their fans but with Wilkerson standing tall with further saves, the ship was steadied and Slough got the win.
In midfield, the Rebels certainly missed the injured Mark Hall and Paul Barrowcliff as big holes appeared on the right flank. Steve Brown and Simon Line were noticeable for their absence in that area when support was needed for the front men, especially as most of the early attacks came down the right.
But it was from the left that both goals - one in each half emanated from, with superb deliveries in from Micky Engwell. Slough did start brightly and good early moves promised good things to come. The first after two minutes saw Bryan Hammatt collect the ball in the right corner. He turned beautifully and passed inside to Dean Samuels, who also showed thoughtful control as he turned and slipped the ball along to Eddie Denton, but the midfielder's shot was not powerful enough to beat the keeper. A move worth of a goal, though.
Bromley came more into it and played with good accurate passing and penetrating crosses that belied their lowly position. Paul Wilkerson was called into action with a save as one good cross was headed down towards goal.
Slough's early rhythmn started to fade and they showed little in keeping possession nor making the ball do the work on a warm afternoon. Bromley forced another diving save from Wilkerson as No 11 drove a shot in which was deflected off a defender.
Lee Francis found his way into the referee's book on 30 minutes, having twice been pulled up for fouls ten minutes earlier.
But three minutes later, Slough took the lead with a well executed goal. Engwell was finally given a ball for him to run down the left and his superb deep cross found Hammatt unmarked at the back post and the striker took his chance with a well directed header.
The next minute, Engwell again threatened with another fine cross but this time the ball was cleared by a defender. Shortly after, a strange lapse of concentration from Graham Kemp allowed No 10 to take the ball off him and with only Wilkerson to beat managed to send it wide for a let-off for Slough.
Although Kemp may have taken his eye off the ball, it was the previous passing that led to the chance as the players' poor first touches put several of them under unnecessary pressure.
Slough began the second half seemingly more determined and injected more pace into their passing. Within minutes Denton could not continue and Lee Endersby came on as replacement. He started well, with some good exchanges with Hammatt. But Endersby's old habit of hanging on to the ball too long saw several opportunities come to nothing.
On 64 minutes, a change of strikers was delivered as Hammatt and Samuels were replaced by Andrew Deaner and Simon Quail. The pairing soon made their mark as a minute later Slough doubled their lead. An Engwell corner found Steve Brown who drove the ball in low. It was flicked on by Deaner to Quail who cleverly backheeled it into the net.
Frustrations set in for Bromley who had three players booked in three minutes to add to one earlier. Mark Pye was also shown a yellow card when unnecessarily winding up a player which led to a bout of handbags.
Bromley pulled one back on 80 minutes when a long ball found Dean Wordsworth unmarked, he took the ball wide around Wilkerson and hit it home.
The last ten minutes Bromley were roared on by their fans but with Wilkerson standing tall with further saves, the ship was steadied and Slough got the win.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Paul Wilkerson
- 2 Micky Engwell
- 3 Lee Francis
- 4 Graham Kemp
- 5 Steve Daly
- 6 Simon Line
- 7 Eddie Denton 12
- 8 Mark Pye
- 9 Dean Samuels 14
- 10 Brian Hammatt 15
- 11 Steve Browne
Substitutes
- 12 Lee Endersby 7
- 14 Simon Quail 9
- 15 Andrew Deaner 10