Slough Town
2
Short (28), Thomas (74)
Banbury United
1
Katasouloudi (59)
League
Attendance: 312
George Short
Slough's fine early season form continued with victory over Banbury United in their first home league fixture of the 2014/15 campaign.
The result, secured thanks to goals from George Short and Darryl Thomas, lifts the Rebels to third place in the fledgling league table, and leaves Banbury third bottom, the Oxfordshire side yet to get off the mark.
Slough, looking to build on an opening-day victory and a midweek draw at Hereford which was so close to being another three points, started the brighter of the two sides at Holloways Park, and dominated the opening half hour. Banbury offered long range shots from Elias Katsoloudi, which was straight at Jake Somerville, and an off-target effort from Marvin Morgan, whilst Slough, with James Dobson seeing a lot of the ball on the left, saw efforts from Johnnie Dyer and Reece Yorke go wide.
The home side looked much the more likely to break the deadlock, and were denied by a good save from Josh Hill, who tipped a goal-bound strike from Short wide in the 16th minute.
Slough’s deserved lead arrived on 26 minutes though. Banbury were penalised for a handball offence on the Slough right, and Short turned in Dobson’s low whipped delivery from the resulting free kick, deceiving Hill in the away goal.
Banbury responded well to going behind, and put Slough under pressure in the final ten minutes of the half. The dangerous Katsoloudi looked to break through, but a fantastic last-ditch challenge from Yorke blocked his effort in front of Somerville.
Slough responded early in the second half by getting back on the front foot. Seven minutes in, George Frith was slid in by Jamie McClurg, but his low effort was turned wide by Hill, the keeper diving well to his left.
However, just two minutes later Banbury found themselves level, courtesy of a stunning first-time strike from Katsoloudi. A cross from Nkosi Mzungwana fell to Katsoloudi on the edge of the penalty area, and he whipped a left-footed effort into the top corner of Jake Somerville’s goal, giving the Slough stopper no chance.
Clearly boosted by this goal, Banbury continued to have the better of the play, and just three minutes later Katsoloudi shot just wide of Somerville’s post - a good chance to put the visitors in front.
Slough replaced Frith, who had suffered a knock in the first half, with wide man Alex Witham, and his impact was almost immediate, but his ball across goal was just too far ahead of Dyer.
Not long after though, Slough went back into the lead. Short, composed in the middle of the park, released Dyer with a chipped ball over the top of the Banbury defence, and the Slough number seven worked his way into the box before playing in a delightful cross which Darryl Thomas buried with a bullet header – a great goal, and a first for the club for Thomas.
Short volleyed wide from a Dobson free kick and Tanasheh Abrahams put a free header wide for Banbury, but the visitors’ task became harder in the 77th minute when Marvin Martin received a straight red card after an altercation with Dyer, who was also booked.
James Dobson, impressive again on the left, went on a run which took him past three defenders, but Hill saved his right-footed strike.
Banbury kept pressing for a late equaliser, but could not threaten the Slough goal again, and Baker and Underwood’s men held on to a deserved three points.
The result, secured thanks to goals from George Short and Darryl Thomas, lifts the Rebels to third place in the fledgling league table, and leaves Banbury third bottom, the Oxfordshire side yet to get off the mark.
Slough, looking to build on an opening-day victory and a midweek draw at Hereford which was so close to being another three points, started the brighter of the two sides at Holloways Park, and dominated the opening half hour. Banbury offered long range shots from Elias Katsoloudi, which was straight at Jake Somerville, and an off-target effort from Marvin Morgan, whilst Slough, with James Dobson seeing a lot of the ball on the left, saw efforts from Johnnie Dyer and Reece Yorke go wide.
The home side looked much the more likely to break the deadlock, and were denied by a good save from Josh Hill, who tipped a goal-bound strike from Short wide in the 16th minute.
Slough’s deserved lead arrived on 26 minutes though. Banbury were penalised for a handball offence on the Slough right, and Short turned in Dobson’s low whipped delivery from the resulting free kick, deceiving Hill in the away goal.
Banbury responded well to going behind, and put Slough under pressure in the final ten minutes of the half. The dangerous Katsoloudi looked to break through, but a fantastic last-ditch challenge from Yorke blocked his effort in front of Somerville.
Slough responded early in the second half by getting back on the front foot. Seven minutes in, George Frith was slid in by Jamie McClurg, but his low effort was turned wide by Hill, the keeper diving well to his left.
However, just two minutes later Banbury found themselves level, courtesy of a stunning first-time strike from Katsoloudi. A cross from Nkosi Mzungwana fell to Katsoloudi on the edge of the penalty area, and he whipped a left-footed effort into the top corner of Jake Somerville’s goal, giving the Slough stopper no chance.
Clearly boosted by this goal, Banbury continued to have the better of the play, and just three minutes later Katsoloudi shot just wide of Somerville’s post - a good chance to put the visitors in front.
Slough replaced Frith, who had suffered a knock in the first half, with wide man Alex Witham, and his impact was almost immediate, but his ball across goal was just too far ahead of Dyer.
Not long after though, Slough went back into the lead. Short, composed in the middle of the park, released Dyer with a chipped ball over the top of the Banbury defence, and the Slough number seven worked his way into the box before playing in a delightful cross which Darryl Thomas buried with a bullet header – a great goal, and a first for the club for Thomas.
Short volleyed wide from a Dobson free kick and Tanasheh Abrahams put a free header wide for Banbury, but the visitors’ task became harder in the 77th minute when Marvin Martin received a straight red card after an altercation with Dyer, who was also booked.
James Dobson, impressive again on the left, went on a run which took him past three defenders, but Hill saved his right-footed strike.
Banbury kept pressing for a late equaliser, but could not threaten the Slough goal again, and Baker and Underwood’s men held on to a deserved three points.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Jake Somerville
- 2 Tom Moran
- 3 Ryan Parsons
- 4 Guy Hollis
- 5 Reece Yorke
- 6 George Short
- 7 Johnnie Dyer
- 8 Jamie McClurg
- 9 George Frith 15
- 10 Darryl Thomas 18
- 11 James Dobson 14
Substitutes
- 12 Sean Fraser
- 14 Jake Parsons 11
- 15 Alex Witham 9
- 16 Scott Harris
- 18 Edward Smith 10
Banbury United Lineup
Josh Hill, Luke Cray, Nkosi Mzungwana, Jack Westbrook, Tanasheh Abrahams, Tom Ryan, Nic Evangelinos (Jordan Edekunle 57), Marvin Martin, Leon Simpson, Elias Katsoloudi (Jacob Walcott 63), Kane Vincent-Young (Shepherd Morombedzi 71). Subs not used: Saleem Masri, Odunayo Oke.