AFC Sudbury
1
Heath (90)
Slough Town
2
Bowden-Haase (8), Buchanan (45)
League
Attendance: 163
Elliott Buchanan
First-half goals from Nathan Bowden-Haase and Elliot Buchanan at AFC Sudbury's King's Marsh Stadium sent Slough Town top of the Zamaretto Midlands league.
A last minute goal from Sudbury's Gareth Heath was not enough to salvage a point for the Suffolk side.
Sudbury started the game with the greater attacking intent, with Danny Bloomfield testing Perks early on, before Kevin Hawes sent a shot spinning wide from the edge of the box after a neat turn. Soon after, Hawes was presented with a much clearer chance. A superb ball from Haynes-Brown was not dealt with properly by the Slough defence which led to Hawes running through on goal, but the striker was denied by a low save from Perks.
However it was the visitors who secured an early lead, just like in the previous match at Aylesbury. After soaking up the early pressure, Slough won a corner which Paul Edgeworth swung over. Nathan Bowden-Haase, in a rich vein of goalscoring form, failed to win the header but was able to bundle the ball over the line from a yard out when the rebound fell to him after Elliot Buchanan’s effort was saved by Richard Wilmot.
Slough had chances to extend their lead, but the lively Sonner had a shot blocked on the line from Bowden-Haase’s header down, and the striker also fired well wide when well-placed on another occasion. Paul Edgeworth sent a free-kick a yard over Wilmot’s crossbar as the pressure mounted.
Sudbury came back into the game, and with half an hour played, Craig Hughes hooked a shot over the bar, before more balls into the box from the dangerous David Hawes on the right had to be dealt with well by Perks and his defence. Hawes himself headed an effort just wide as Sudbury came close to an equaliser.
But, on the stroke of half time, Slough scored a crucial second goal. Steve Sinclair showed pace and trickery on the right wing before crossing the ball into the box, where Elliot Buchanan rose highest to direct his header past Wilmot and into the far corner.
Sudbury started the second half with real determination, and Ricky Perks had to be alert to cut out dangerous crosses from Hawes, with the Slough defence doing well to track back and restrict the hosts.
Rhys Darg headed wide of the far post from Haynes-Brown as the Suffolk side stepped up the pressure - but for much of the half, were unable to create chances from their possession.
As Sudbury pushed forward, Slough almost wrapped up the points but Simon Martin was denied by a superb Michael Fitzgibbon tackle on the edge of the box.
Late drama ensued as, one minute into added time, Craig Hughes released Gareth Heath and the Sudbury captain finished with aplomb to set up a nervy last few moments for Slough.
Despite more late pressure from Sudbury, Slough saw out the remainder of the game and ensured they would move top of the league ahead of a crucial clash with Bury Town at the weekend.
A last minute goal from Sudbury's Gareth Heath was not enough to salvage a point for the Suffolk side.
Sudbury started the game with the greater attacking intent, with Danny Bloomfield testing Perks early on, before Kevin Hawes sent a shot spinning wide from the edge of the box after a neat turn. Soon after, Hawes was presented with a much clearer chance. A superb ball from Haynes-Brown was not dealt with properly by the Slough defence which led to Hawes running through on goal, but the striker was denied by a low save from Perks.
However it was the visitors who secured an early lead, just like in the previous match at Aylesbury. After soaking up the early pressure, Slough won a corner which Paul Edgeworth swung over. Nathan Bowden-Haase, in a rich vein of goalscoring form, failed to win the header but was able to bundle the ball over the line from a yard out when the rebound fell to him after Elliot Buchanan’s effort was saved by Richard Wilmot.
Slough had chances to extend their lead, but the lively Sonner had a shot blocked on the line from Bowden-Haase’s header down, and the striker also fired well wide when well-placed on another occasion. Paul Edgeworth sent a free-kick a yard over Wilmot’s crossbar as the pressure mounted.
Sudbury came back into the game, and with half an hour played, Craig Hughes hooked a shot over the bar, before more balls into the box from the dangerous David Hawes on the right had to be dealt with well by Perks and his defence. Hawes himself headed an effort just wide as Sudbury came close to an equaliser.
But, on the stroke of half time, Slough scored a crucial second goal. Steve Sinclair showed pace and trickery on the right wing before crossing the ball into the box, where Elliot Buchanan rose highest to direct his header past Wilmot and into the far corner.
Sudbury started the second half with real determination, and Ricky Perks had to be alert to cut out dangerous crosses from Hawes, with the Slough defence doing well to track back and restrict the hosts.
Rhys Darg headed wide of the far post from Haynes-Brown as the Suffolk side stepped up the pressure - but for much of the half, were unable to create chances from their possession.
As Sudbury pushed forward, Slough almost wrapped up the points but Simon Martin was denied by a superb Michael Fitzgibbon tackle on the edge of the box.
Late drama ensued as, one minute into added time, Craig Hughes released Gareth Heath and the Sudbury captain finished with aplomb to set up a nervy last few moments for Slough.
Despite more late pressure from Sudbury, Slough saw out the remainder of the game and ensured they would move top of the league ahead of a crucial clash with Bury Town at the weekend.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Ricky Perks
- 2 Simon Sweeney
- 3 Danny Murphy
- 4 Rob Kean
- 5 Nathan Bowden-Haase
- 6 Dean Harper
- 7 Steve Sinclair
- 8 Chris Herron
- 9 Sean Sonner
- 10 Elliott Buchanan
- 11 Paul Edgeworth
Substitutes
- 12 Simon Martin
- 14 Kyle Jeffrey
- 15 Dwain Clarke
- 16 Grant Avis
- 17 Jamie Jackson
AFC Sudbury Lineup
Wilmot, Speed, Haynes-Brown, Clarke, Brown, Darg, D Hawes (Fitzgibbon), Heath, Hughes, Bloomfield, K Hawes. Subs not used: Parkinson, Douglas, Adams, Smith.