Rebels Edge Marlow By Odd Goal In Five

Slough Town made the short journey across to Marlow for this afternoons Ryman League Division One encounter hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the new season.

After an impeccably observed minutes silence in memory of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both sides set about their task. Both sides cancelled each other out early on familiarising themselves on a very bumpy surface but Robert Gibson had the games opening chance when he shot wide on the volley. Slough had the ball in the net moments after when Steve Hale found some space and slotted neatly into the corner, but was adjudged to be offiside.

Slough began to pressure a back line marshalled by ex-Maidenhead man Tim Cook, and a long running battle between him and Sammy Winston ensued all through the game. Slough nearly got the goals opening game after a Gilkes corner was headed back by Daly with Hale knocking the ball onto the bar. A scramble ensued, but Marlow were able to clear the danger.

Slough had the ball in the net when Steve Hale found some space and slotted neatly into the corner, but was adjudged to be offside.

Nicky Ryder nearly scored for Marlow from a goal kick soon after. Carrol's long clearance was knocked into his path by Gibson, but his volleyed effort was well wide. Zepherin was called upon in the 28th minute and showed his agility as he clawed a top corner effort from Butcher out for a corner.

Within minutes, Slough opened the scoring with a scrappy goal. Paul Barrowcliff found some space on the left flank and crossed in. The ball evaded everyone until Rickey Browne at the back post knocked the ball back in and a glancing Steve Daly header found the net.

Marlow came out brightly in the opening minute of the second half and very nearly forced an equaliser. Ryder beat Zepherin to a high looping cross and as the ball was drifting in, Daly was commanding in defence, too, and used his head to good effect to keep out an effort from John Isaac with the keeper beaten.

This appeared to lift Slough as within a minute they had extended their lead. Sammy Winston charged down an attempted clearance from Cook and broke into the box. He cut inside the covering defender and shot home from twelve yards low to Carroll's right.

Within two minutes Slough could have extended their lead as some neat passing tore Marlow's defence apart. Spencer put Hakki through in a quick Rebels break. The midfielders shot from the edge of the area was well palmed away by Carroll but Steve Hale was quick to pounce on the rebound and will have been unhappy with himself to have seen his effort hit the outside of the post.

Winston nearly completed his hat trick ten minutes into the second half. The lively striker was fed a low cross by Spencer, but under good pressure could not direct his volley as it went comfortably wide. Soon after Winston created another chance for himself through hard work as he broke past Evans in the left hand channel. He broke forward into the box but dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Winston again was the main cause of trouble for Marlow as he connected with a diving header from a Hakki cross, but again, could not direct his effort.

Both sides now began to get bogged down in a midfield battle with both sides struggling to keep possession. Marlow pulled themselves back into the game with twelve minutes remaining as Slough struggled to clear the ball from a right wing cross and Shepherd was allowed time and space in the area prodding home from ten yards low to Zepherin's right. Marlow pushed hard for an equaliser and Ryder was dismissed for an over enthusiastic challenge on Barrowcliff and tempers frayed. Slough managed to hold on for the final few minutes despite heavy Marlow pressure.

Slough raised their game a touch and began to exert some pressure on Marlow resulting in Dean Palmer making a 30 yard run resulting in a shot, but unfortunately for the defender, his effort was narrowly wide. Ryder nearly got a response for Marlow after being released by Goodall with a long through ball, but he put his effort wide. He made amends soon after when some quick thinking from a quickly taken free kick released Shepherd down the right flank. His first time cross found the run of Ryder who slotted home the equaliser.

Slough responded almost immediately though as a Veli Hakki free kick was met by the head of Sammy Winston at the near post leaving Carroll with no chance.