Slough Town
1
Ma. Murphy (87)
Staines Town
0
League
Attendance: 217
Christian Metcalfe
A Matt Murphy goal finally made it mathematically certain that the Rebels will be in the Premier Division next season after winning their fifth game in 11 hectic days.
The game again seemed destined to end scoreless when Matt Murphy popped up in space in the box to glance a header past Staines keeper Matt Lovett with three minutes remaining and take Rebels to the magic 50 points mark.
In truth, the loss was rough justice on the visitors who looked the livelier throughout the second period and how they didn't score when Fiston Manuella's flick struck the post, rolled along the goalline and stayed out, no-one knew.
But for all their possession, and Manuella's effort apart, Rebels keeper Michael Parkin was seldom tested on the night and the same could be said for Lovett at the other end who was left helpless by his absent central defence.
The bumpy pitch made life difficult for both sides though they did try to get the ball down and play when they could. Former Rebel Clement lames showed his trickery for Staines but like so many on the night he failed to deliver an end product.
For Slough, Christian Metcalfe and Darron Wilkinson had immense games in the centre of midfield while Leigh Mason drifted in and out of the game, partly due to several heavy tackles in each half thaf required treatment on both occasions.
But he did deliver a superb cross from the left for Murphy's winner but all too often, he played more of a peripheral rule while Denny Steer, who swapped roles with Michael Murphy, was largely anonymous in the wing back role.
He did get in a header after 20 minutes from an excellently dug out cross from Matt Seedel after 20 minutes that Lovett tipped over but if was one of the rare moments he got into the box.
That apart, most of the first half was largely forgettable. Staines had two free kicks that both went into the wall before a rousing finale to the half saw chances at either end.
The first came from a Michael Murphy free kick, headed back across goal by Steve Daly which Seedel headed over the top from eight yards.
Daly was in the thick of action in his normal defensive position, getting in a superb block to deny Marien Ifura after James had crossed from the right on the stroke of half time.
The second half also started slowly though Michael Murphy and Christian Metcalfe both found their way into the referee's notebook for back-chatting before a free kick caused the Staines defence worries before being scrambled clear.
In the 66th minute, Staines came close to breaking the deadlock when Manuella struck the upright and though the visitors had plenty of the ball after that, the home rearguard was never stretched.
Then with time running out, Steer took a quick throw to Mason whose inswinging cross was met superbly by Matt Murphy and his 21st goal of the season won it.
The game again seemed destined to end scoreless when Matt Murphy popped up in space in the box to glance a header past Staines keeper Matt Lovett with three minutes remaining and take Rebels to the magic 50 points mark.
In truth, the loss was rough justice on the visitors who looked the livelier throughout the second period and how they didn't score when Fiston Manuella's flick struck the post, rolled along the goalline and stayed out, no-one knew.
But for all their possession, and Manuella's effort apart, Rebels keeper Michael Parkin was seldom tested on the night and the same could be said for Lovett at the other end who was left helpless by his absent central defence.
The bumpy pitch made life difficult for both sides though they did try to get the ball down and play when they could. Former Rebel Clement lames showed his trickery for Staines but like so many on the night he failed to deliver an end product.
For Slough, Christian Metcalfe and Darron Wilkinson had immense games in the centre of midfield while Leigh Mason drifted in and out of the game, partly due to several heavy tackles in each half thaf required treatment on both occasions.
But he did deliver a superb cross from the left for Murphy's winner but all too often, he played more of a peripheral rule while Denny Steer, who swapped roles with Michael Murphy, was largely anonymous in the wing back role.
He did get in a header after 20 minutes from an excellently dug out cross from Matt Seedel after 20 minutes that Lovett tipped over but if was one of the rare moments he got into the box.
That apart, most of the first half was largely forgettable. Staines had two free kicks that both went into the wall before a rousing finale to the half saw chances at either end.
The first came from a Michael Murphy free kick, headed back across goal by Steve Daly which Seedel headed over the top from eight yards.
Daly was in the thick of action in his normal defensive position, getting in a superb block to deny Marien Ifura after James had crossed from the right on the stroke of half time.
The second half also started slowly though Michael Murphy and Christian Metcalfe both found their way into the referee's notebook for back-chatting before a free kick caused the Staines defence worries before being scrambled clear.
In the 66th minute, Staines came close to breaking the deadlock when Manuella struck the upright and though the visitors had plenty of the ball after that, the home rearguard was never stretched.
Then with time running out, Steer took a quick throw to Mason whose inswinging cross was met superbly by Matt Murphy and his 21st goal of the season won it.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Michael Parkin
- 2 Josias Carbon
- 3 Michael Murphy
- 4 Steve Daly
- 5 James Saulsbury
- 6 Danny Steer
- 7 Darron Wilkinson
- 8 Leigh Mason
- 9 Christian Metcalfe
- 10 Matt Murphy
- 11 Matt Seedel
Substitutes
- 12 Dan Cann
- 14 Matt Miller
- 15 Veli Hakki
- 16 Ryan Spencer
- 17 Sam Shepherd