Ford Motor To Victory

Slough Town were defeated at home in the league for the second time since October as they suffered a narrow defeat against promotion hopefuls Ford United.

Manager Steve Browne made wholesale chances to the starting line up with Simon Ullathorne and Michael Gilkes rested on the bench; giving Junior Kadi the chance to make his home debut. The away side started the match well with the physical presence of Chris Rose causing the Rebels defence some problems early on.

However, it was Rose's strike partner Leli Bejada who had a great chance to put Ford ahead i the opening ten minutes. He beat the Slough offside trap and found himself with only goalkeeper Dominique Jean-Zepherin to beat. The striker rounded the keeper, but lost his footing and kicked the ball too far in front of him. Despite Bejada's claims for a penalty nothing was given and the chance was lost.

Seven minutes later Slough created their first real chance of the match. Some intricate football between Kadi, Veli Hakki, Anthony Howard and Kieran Gallager resulted in a chance for Michael Bartley, but the striker shot wide of the target. On thirty-three minutes Ford grabbed the all-important first goal of the match. A corner was floated into the area by Garry Kimble that Zepherin came for and missed. With the French goalkeeper stranded Rose had the easiest of chances to put Dennis Elliott's men in front.

Just three minutes later though the Rebels found themselves back on level terms. Paul Barrowcliff took a quick free-kick to Hakki who delightfully curled the ball into the top corner of the net leaving goalkeeper Jimmy Chapman with no chance. Clearly boosted by the equaliser it now looked like Slough were the more likely of the two teams to go ahead before the break.

It was the away side though who went in front in injury-time in the first half. Another Kimble cross was miss-handled by Zepherin, however the danger looked cleared until Paul Adophe knocked the ball accross goal for Ashley Marsh to put the visitors back in front.

The home side replaced Michael Gilkes for the ineffective Kadi immediately in the second half. The new signing looked like he was lacking match fitness and the struggled to get into the game in an unusual role of left side midfield. Gilkes introduction gave the Rebels more of an attacking threat almost immediately. It wasthe former Reading man who set up a chance early on for Winston who looked to be set for a goalscoring chance until his first touch let him down.

Just five minutes later Gilkes was involved again in a move which should have seen the Rebels draw level. His cross found it's way to Bartley who miss-kicked, but the ball fell nicely to Gallagher who left footed fired the ball over the bar when he should have scored. It took the visitors twenty minutes to create their first real chance of the half as they seemed content to sit on their lead and hit Slough on the counter attack.

Their chance fell to experienced defender Garry Kimble who had space in the area, but shot wide of the goal. As the minutes ticked away it looked unlikely that the home side would grab an equaliser. They had a lot of the ball, but struggled to create many chances against a well-organised Ford defence.

The Rebels last chance to level the scoreline came when Winston's cross looked set to find it's way to Bartley but Chapman denied the striker a chance with a brave interception. Ford held on to gain three valuable points which sets them up nicely for promotion at the end of the season.