Farnborough
1
Saunders (pen 74)
Slough Town
0
FA Cup
Attendance: 571
Luke Evans
A Rob Saunders penalty sixteen minutes from time was all that separated Slough Town and the Southern Premier League leaders in a tight game at Cherrywood Road.
Both teams laboured in the heat and chances were at a premium, particularly for Slough who struggled to force the issue against their higher-placed opponents.
Slough Town had started off brightly, with Byron Bubb making inroads down the right and playing the ball into Jordan, whose header went just wide.
Jordan had what would turn out to be Slough’s best opportunity after just six minutes, as the striker beat two defenders and got a left-footed shot in on goal, which was cleared off the line superbly by Ian Oliver.
Farnborough’s first chance fell to Rumbold at the far post, but the danger was cleared.
The game settled down and developed into a midfield battle, with the hosts on top possession-wise but the Rebels looking able to cope comfortably.
Slough were dealt a blow on 34 minutes however, as Eamonn McGonigley was forced off with an injury. John Gray came on in his place and slotted in at left back.
The second half brought further chances for Farnborough, most notably a free kick from Saunders which required a superb acrobatic tip-over from Jackson.
Slough were only to have brief spells of pressure in the Farnborough half, and were restricted mostly to set pieces as the hosts remained resolute.
Farnborough spurned a glorious chance midway through the half as Leigh Rumbold put the ball over the bar from a few yards out after a dangerous low cross from the left.
It had looked as if Slough would hold on to claim a replay, but the big moment of the match came in the 74th minute as Ryan Fenton’s challenge on Michael Charles was adjudged to have been a foul. It was a debatable decision, but one which was ultimately the difference between the two sides. Protestations from Luke Evans and Dean Harper proved fruitless as Rob Saunders, scorer of 23 goals last season, stepped up confidently and scored his first of this season past Jackson’s right hand.
In the remaining quarter of an hour, Slough tried but ultimately failed to get back into the game, as they were unable to create any clear-cut opportunities. Farnborough had the ball in the net twice more, but efforts from Rumbold and Charles were disallowed for fouls.
Farnborough saw out the remainder of the game with few problems as Slough tired in the sun, and held on for a deserved victory.
Both teams laboured in the heat and chances were at a premium, particularly for Slough who struggled to force the issue against their higher-placed opponents.
Slough Town had started off brightly, with Byron Bubb making inroads down the right and playing the ball into Jordan, whose header went just wide.
Jordan had what would turn out to be Slough’s best opportunity after just six minutes, as the striker beat two defenders and got a left-footed shot in on goal, which was cleared off the line superbly by Ian Oliver.
Farnborough’s first chance fell to Rumbold at the far post, but the danger was cleared.
The game settled down and developed into a midfield battle, with the hosts on top possession-wise but the Rebels looking able to cope comfortably.
Slough were dealt a blow on 34 minutes however, as Eamonn McGonigley was forced off with an injury. John Gray came on in his place and slotted in at left back.
The second half brought further chances for Farnborough, most notably a free kick from Saunders which required a superb acrobatic tip-over from Jackson.
Slough were only to have brief spells of pressure in the Farnborough half, and were restricted mostly to set pieces as the hosts remained resolute.
Farnborough spurned a glorious chance midway through the half as Leigh Rumbold put the ball over the bar from a few yards out after a dangerous low cross from the left.
It had looked as if Slough would hold on to claim a replay, but the big moment of the match came in the 74th minute as Ryan Fenton’s challenge on Michael Charles was adjudged to have been a foul. It was a debatable decision, but one which was ultimately the difference between the two sides. Protestations from Luke Evans and Dean Harper proved fruitless as Rob Saunders, scorer of 23 goals last season, stepped up confidently and scored his first of this season past Jackson’s right hand.
In the remaining quarter of an hour, Slough tried but ultimately failed to get back into the game, as they were unable to create any clear-cut opportunities. Farnborough had the ball in the net twice more, but efforts from Rumbold and Charles were disallowed for fouls.
Farnborough saw out the remainder of the game with few problems as Slough tired in the sun, and held on for a deserved victory.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Jamie Jackson
- 2 Dean Harper
- 3 Eamonn McConigley
- 4 Luke Evans
- 5 Ryan Fenton
- 6 Adam Durrant
- 7 Lee Riddell
- 8 Laurence Brown
- 9 Danny Jordan
- 10 Matthew Platt
- 11 Byron Bubb
Substitutes
- 12 Johnnie Gray
- 14 Roy Gumbs
- 15 Steve Daly
- 16 Thomas Attrell
- 17 Craig Roberts
- 18 Alex Tullett
Farnborough Lineup
Beazley, Ray, Oliver, Woozley, Doyle, Laidler (c), Saunders, Rumbold, Ciardini (Spence 83), Charles, Wheeler (Harkness 72). Subs not used: Scott, Barima, Burton, Gleeson.