AFC Hayes
0
Slough Town
1
W Harris (9)
League
Attendance: 212
Jamie McClurg
Slough kept up their excellent recent form, racking up a fifth straight league win with a narrow, but deserved three points gained at AFC Hayes, courtesy of an early Warren Harris strike.
The win tops off a superb week for the Rebels, who beat Royston Town 2-1 last Saturday before winning by the same score at Barton Rovers on Thursday evening, leaving just 36 hours’ rest before the trip to Farm Park.
Slough showed no signs of tiredness early on, and heaped pressure on the Hayes penalty area. The home side repelled numerous crosses into the box in the opening eight minutes, but could not prevent the Rebels taking the lead. Jake Somerville’s long clearance was controlled by Johnnie Dyer, and in one movement he played a reverse pass into the path of Warren Harris, who seamlessly took the ball into the box, playing it past two defenders, before firing into the back of the net – a well worked goal, and the in-form winger's 17th of the season.
Somerville, who in truth was rarely tested throughout, made his best save of the match from former Rebel Tony Mendy, scorer of two goals for Slough in a brief spell earlier in the season. The hosts won a free kick 25 yards out, and Mendy stepped up to get his effort on target, but Somerville moved quickly to his left to turn the ball away.
Slough failed to build on their early pressure, and whilst Hayes rarely threatened, the Rebels were also failing to penetrate the resolute home defence, with Smith and Harris both having shots blocked.
Half time saw a change for Slough, with James Dobson replacing Jake Parsons. Warren Harris came closest to extending the lead, but his fierce strike crashed back off the crossbar after both Smith and Dave Woozley had tried to force the ball on target.
Slough’s dangerous attacks became more frequent, with Jamie McClurg in particular stamping his authority on midfield, but the visitors were wasteful. Smith dummied cleverly for Dyer, who mishit his attempted shot as the ball bobbled up off the surface. Shortly after, Harris found himself in on goal, but he failed to get enough power on his attempted lob, with the ball being cleared to safety. Smith also put the ball over the bar from close range after Dyer had headed a Dobson corner into the six yard box.
Slough were also resolute at the back when required, with Woozley again dominant alongside Guy Hollis, who was called upon to put in a great tackle on Mendy to prevent him getting a clear sight of goal.
Dyer was forced off with a head injury sustained in a collision with the AFC Hayes goalkeeper, replaced by Adam Cornell – and Slough continued to look for a second goal, but Smith was again thwarted as he worked the ball onto his left foot, but saw his shot blocked by the keeper’s legs.
Whilst Slough were never fully comfortable with their single goal lead, the hosts failed to seriously test Somerville, and Smith was frustrated yet again late on as he saw an attempted lob saved – but the second half misses proved not to be costly as the Rebels left Farm Park with another precious three points.
The win tops off a superb week for the Rebels, who beat Royston Town 2-1 last Saturday before winning by the same score at Barton Rovers on Thursday evening, leaving just 36 hours’ rest before the trip to Farm Park.
Slough showed no signs of tiredness early on, and heaped pressure on the Hayes penalty area. The home side repelled numerous crosses into the box in the opening eight minutes, but could not prevent the Rebels taking the lead. Jake Somerville’s long clearance was controlled by Johnnie Dyer, and in one movement he played a reverse pass into the path of Warren Harris, who seamlessly took the ball into the box, playing it past two defenders, before firing into the back of the net – a well worked goal, and the in-form winger's 17th of the season.
Somerville, who in truth was rarely tested throughout, made his best save of the match from former Rebel Tony Mendy, scorer of two goals for Slough in a brief spell earlier in the season. The hosts won a free kick 25 yards out, and Mendy stepped up to get his effort on target, but Somerville moved quickly to his left to turn the ball away.
Slough failed to build on their early pressure, and whilst Hayes rarely threatened, the Rebels were also failing to penetrate the resolute home defence, with Smith and Harris both having shots blocked.
Half time saw a change for Slough, with James Dobson replacing Jake Parsons. Warren Harris came closest to extending the lead, but his fierce strike crashed back off the crossbar after both Smith and Dave Woozley had tried to force the ball on target.
Slough’s dangerous attacks became more frequent, with Jamie McClurg in particular stamping his authority on midfield, but the visitors were wasteful. Smith dummied cleverly for Dyer, who mishit his attempted shot as the ball bobbled up off the surface. Shortly after, Harris found himself in on goal, but he failed to get enough power on his attempted lob, with the ball being cleared to safety. Smith also put the ball over the bar from close range after Dyer had headed a Dobson corner into the six yard box.
Slough were also resolute at the back when required, with Woozley again dominant alongside Guy Hollis, who was called upon to put in a great tackle on Mendy to prevent him getting a clear sight of goal.
Dyer was forced off with a head injury sustained in a collision with the AFC Hayes goalkeeper, replaced by Adam Cornell – and Slough continued to look for a second goal, but Smith was again thwarted as he worked the ball onto his left foot, but saw his shot blocked by the keeper’s legs.
Whilst Slough were never fully comfortable with their single goal lead, the hosts failed to seriously test Somerville, and Smith was frustrated yet again late on as he saw an attempted lob saved – but the second half misses proved not to be costly as the Rebels left Farm Park with another precious three points.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Jake Somerville
- 2 Sean Fraser
- 3 Ryan Parsons
- 4 Guy Hollis
- 5 David Woozley
- 6 George Short
- 7 Johnnie Dyer 16
- 8 Jamie McClurg
- 9 Edward Smith
- 10 Warren Harris 12
- 11 Jake Parsons 15
Substitutes
- 12 Dan Sintim 10
- 14 Gareth Risbridger
- 15 James Dobson 11
- 16 Adam Cornell 7
- 17 Steve Duff