Berkhamsted Town
3
Sippetts (23, 78), Mapes (28)
Slough Town
1
Gilkes (45)
League
Attendance: 240
Ryan Spencer
Another end of season game and another poor Slough performance as Berkhamsted always looked the better team in the final game of the season.
A somewhat strange looking Rebels team saw Rav Braich and Eddie Denton in the starting line up. Ryan Williams was named as captain and manager Steve Browne placed himself on the substitutes bench.
But despite this. Slough actually started the match relatively well as Ryan Spencer, playing up front in the absence of Sammy Winston, Tony Boot and Ian Hodges, managed to fire in a volley which was well saved by Matt Ramsey.
Seconds later Berkhamsted broke and Dominique Jean-Zepherin had to make a smart stop from ex-Rebel John Richardson. Both Spencer and Williams went close after good pieces of skill from the two players but neither could beat Ramsey in the home goal.
As Berkhamsted pushed forward again, an Andy Mullins effort which was just wide and it seemed to put the home side back in control of the match.
Then on 23 minutes, Berkhamsted took the lead that their performance probably deserved. Richardson. found space at the back post and his header back across goal found Gary Sippetts, who had been left unmarked by Ricky Browne and powered his header into the corner.
Berkhamsted doubled their lead five minutes later. Once again Richardson was involved, his header being superbly saved by Jean-Zepherin but Browne once again made a mistake by taking too long to clear the ball and he let Charlie Mapes in to fire home.
The rampant home side had chances to extend their lead with Chris Herron and Richardson both going close before Berko were given an even bigger advantage as Slough were reduced to ten men. Browne had already been booked for a bad tackle on Simon Sweeney then argued with the linesman near the dugouts and was sent off for his second bookable offence.
Before half time both Braich and Denyon tried their luck from long range but couldn't find the killer effort to beat Ramsey.
However, on the stroke of half time, Michael Gilkes on what is almost certainly his last appearance for the club, turned on a through ball from Spencer and fired it into the corner off the pcst to give Slough some hope in the match.
After the break the game descended into mostly an end of season farce with both teams playing out time until the final whistle.
There were early chances for Sippetts, and Denton and Spencer both went close for the away side as the latter continued to be involved in all of Slough's productive moves.
With just over 20 minutes to go the game just proceeded into further farce as efforts at each end bounced up into the faces of the keepers due to the poor quality of the surface as first Spencer was denied by Ramsey and then Sippetts effort was saved by Jean-Zepherin.
The final goal of the game went to th home side as Sippetts again broke free a weary Slough back line and fire across goal and past Jean-Zepherin.
The goal led Steve Browne to bring himself on and the closing minutes were played out with very little attacking play.
At the final whistle, Slough fans applauded their players off the pitch although it is clear that very few see this as a successful season despite Rebel finishing in fourth place.
A somewhat strange looking Rebels team saw Rav Braich and Eddie Denton in the starting line up. Ryan Williams was named as captain and manager Steve Browne placed himself on the substitutes bench.
But despite this. Slough actually started the match relatively well as Ryan Spencer, playing up front in the absence of Sammy Winston, Tony Boot and Ian Hodges, managed to fire in a volley which was well saved by Matt Ramsey.
Seconds later Berkhamsted broke and Dominique Jean-Zepherin had to make a smart stop from ex-Rebel John Richardson. Both Spencer and Williams went close after good pieces of skill from the two players but neither could beat Ramsey in the home goal.
As Berkhamsted pushed forward again, an Andy Mullins effort which was just wide and it seemed to put the home side back in control of the match.
Then on 23 minutes, Berkhamsted took the lead that their performance probably deserved. Richardson. found space at the back post and his header back across goal found Gary Sippetts, who had been left unmarked by Ricky Browne and powered his header into the corner.
Berkhamsted doubled their lead five minutes later. Once again Richardson was involved, his header being superbly saved by Jean-Zepherin but Browne once again made a mistake by taking too long to clear the ball and he let Charlie Mapes in to fire home.
The rampant home side had chances to extend their lead with Chris Herron and Richardson both going close before Berko were given an even bigger advantage as Slough were reduced to ten men. Browne had already been booked for a bad tackle on Simon Sweeney then argued with the linesman near the dugouts and was sent off for his second bookable offence.
Before half time both Braich and Denyon tried their luck from long range but couldn't find the killer effort to beat Ramsey.
However, on the stroke of half time, Michael Gilkes on what is almost certainly his last appearance for the club, turned on a through ball from Spencer and fired it into the corner off the pcst to give Slough some hope in the match.
After the break the game descended into mostly an end of season farce with both teams playing out time until the final whistle.
There were early chances for Sippetts, and Denton and Spencer both went close for the away side as the latter continued to be involved in all of Slough's productive moves.
With just over 20 minutes to go the game just proceeded into further farce as efforts at each end bounced up into the faces of the keepers due to the poor quality of the surface as first Spencer was denied by Ramsey and then Sippetts effort was saved by Jean-Zepherin.
The final goal of the game went to th home side as Sippetts again broke free a weary Slough back line and fire across goal and past Jean-Zepherin.
The goal led Steve Browne to bring himself on and the closing minutes were played out with very little attacking play.
At the final whistle, Slough fans applauded their players off the pitch although it is clear that very few see this as a successful season despite Rebel finishing in fourth place.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Dominique Jean-Zephirin
- 2 Antony Howard
- 3 Steve Daly
- 4 Ricky Browne
- 5 Craig Rocastle
- 6 Ryan Spencer
- 7 Rav Braith
- 8 Christian Metcalfe
- 9 Ryan Williams
- 10 Eddie Denton
- 11 Michael Gilkes
Substitutes
- 12 Steve Browne
- 14 Dan Whatford
- 15 Adrian Browne
- 17 Adrian Blake