Dorchester Town
1
Oldring (90+2)
Slough Town
2
Smith (pen 30), Webb (45+2)
League
Attendance: 447
Mark Scott
First half goals from Eddie Smith and Nathan Webb set Slough up for a superb, hard-fought win at Dorchester on Saturday.
Joint managers Jon Underwood and Neil Baker described the performance as being full of character, with Baker adding that it was a ‘big win against the odds’ as a number of the Rebels squad - Mark Scott, Dan Hicks and Eddie Smith among them – have been suffering with flu-like symptoms, whilst Leigh Rumbold and Lee Barney were both ruled out with hamstring injuries, though both took a place on the bench.
The game was only a few minutes old when Shane Murphy held a flicked effort from Warren Harris, whilst Mark Scott made the first of many saves, with Guy Hollis mopping up.
Lewis Putman turned past a defender and rolled a shot across goal, and later almost set up a chance for Charlie Mpi, but he side-footed wide from six yards.
Dorchester almost opened the scoring as Ben Watson played Nathan Walker through one-on-one, but whilst his shot beat Scott, Hicks got back to clear the danger as the ball bobbled toward goal.
With half an hour played, a ball over the top set Mpi free, with the striker getting goal-side of Jake Smeeton before being dragged to the ground by the Magpies skipper. A penalty was awarded, and Smeeton escaped any punishment despite appearing to be the last defender. Smith stepped up and struck his kick firmly down the middle of the goal to put Slough into the lead.
Dorchester went in search of an equaliser and almost found it as Walker was afforded a free header in the box as Martin’s ball in bounced over a number of players, but it flew across goal and wide.
Two minutes into time added on at the end of the first half, Slough doubled their lead. Putman’s corner kick was headed down by Hicks and Nathan Webb, with his back to goal, flicked the ball into the back of the net with Dorchester appealing for an offside flag which was not forthcoming.
Slough pushed to try and add to their lead in the second half, and after Warren Harris took on four Dorchester defenders on the edge of the area, Sean Fraser crossed in to Putman, whose effort was well blocked.
Dorchester created a number of chances in the second half but were unable to take any of them. Oakley Hanger took a shot from a very tight angle, forcing Scott to dive and turn the ball away.
Harris saw an effort blocked and Ryan Hope looped a shot onto the roof of the net before the hosts were reduced to ten men after a reckless challenge by Charlie Davis on Hope resulted in him receiving a red card and his team an uphill struggle.
Dorchester almost reduced the arrears shortly after, but Scott pulled off a fantastic double save to deny substitute Toby Holmes after he found himself with plenty of space in the box.
Slough looked to take advantage of the extra space as Putman launched a superb cross-field pass to Harris. He nodded the ball to Smith, with the striker playing the winger in behind the Dorchester defence, with Murphy making a crucial save.
The hosts pushed men forwards with time trickling away, but were frustrated as Holmes headed over from close range. Slough almost killed the game off late on, but Smith was denied by Murphy after excellent play from Harris and then Putman on the left.
Dorchester set up a nervy final few moments for Slough when Liam Sayers split the Slough defence and Matt Oldring lashed a shot past Scott, but the Rebels were able to take all three points away.
Joint managers Jon Underwood and Neil Baker described the performance as being full of character, with Baker adding that it was a ‘big win against the odds’ as a number of the Rebels squad - Mark Scott, Dan Hicks and Eddie Smith among them – have been suffering with flu-like symptoms, whilst Leigh Rumbold and Lee Barney were both ruled out with hamstring injuries, though both took a place on the bench.
The game was only a few minutes old when Shane Murphy held a flicked effort from Warren Harris, whilst Mark Scott made the first of many saves, with Guy Hollis mopping up.
Lewis Putman turned past a defender and rolled a shot across goal, and later almost set up a chance for Charlie Mpi, but he side-footed wide from six yards.
Dorchester almost opened the scoring as Ben Watson played Nathan Walker through one-on-one, but whilst his shot beat Scott, Hicks got back to clear the danger as the ball bobbled toward goal.
With half an hour played, a ball over the top set Mpi free, with the striker getting goal-side of Jake Smeeton before being dragged to the ground by the Magpies skipper. A penalty was awarded, and Smeeton escaped any punishment despite appearing to be the last defender. Smith stepped up and struck his kick firmly down the middle of the goal to put Slough into the lead.
Dorchester went in search of an equaliser and almost found it as Walker was afforded a free header in the box as Martin’s ball in bounced over a number of players, but it flew across goal and wide.
Two minutes into time added on at the end of the first half, Slough doubled their lead. Putman’s corner kick was headed down by Hicks and Nathan Webb, with his back to goal, flicked the ball into the back of the net with Dorchester appealing for an offside flag which was not forthcoming.
Slough pushed to try and add to their lead in the second half, and after Warren Harris took on four Dorchester defenders on the edge of the area, Sean Fraser crossed in to Putman, whose effort was well blocked.
Dorchester created a number of chances in the second half but were unable to take any of them. Oakley Hanger took a shot from a very tight angle, forcing Scott to dive and turn the ball away.
Harris saw an effort blocked and Ryan Hope looped a shot onto the roof of the net before the hosts were reduced to ten men after a reckless challenge by Charlie Davis on Hope resulted in him receiving a red card and his team an uphill struggle.
Dorchester almost reduced the arrears shortly after, but Scott pulled off a fantastic double save to deny substitute Toby Holmes after he found himself with plenty of space in the box.
Slough looked to take advantage of the extra space as Putman launched a superb cross-field pass to Harris. He nodded the ball to Smith, with the striker playing the winger in behind the Dorchester defence, with Murphy making a crucial save.
The hosts pushed men forwards with time trickling away, but were frustrated as Holmes headed over from close range. Slough almost killed the game off late on, but Smith was denied by Murphy after excellent play from Harris and then Putman on the left.
Dorchester set up a nervy final few moments for Slough when Liam Sayers split the Slough defence and Matt Oldring lashed a shot past Scott, but the Rebels were able to take all three points away.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Mark Scott
- 2 Sean Fraser
- 3 Paul Stonehouse
- 4 Guy Hollis
- 5 Daniel Hicks
- 6 Ryan Hope
- 7 Lewis Putman
- 8 Nathan Webb
- 9 Charlie Mpi
- 10 Edward Smith
- 11 Warren Harris
Substitutes
- 12 Jhai Dhillon
- 14 Jake Parsons
- 15 Gurkan Gokmen
- 16 Lee Barney
- 18 Leigh Rumbold
Dorchester Town Lineup
Shane Murphy, Oakley Hanger (Mark Jermyn), Jake Smeeton (c), Franklyn Clarke, Matt Oldring, Chris Dillon, Charlie Davis, Luke Holmes (Liam Sayers), Nathan Walker, Ben Watson (Toby Holmes), Neil Martin. Subs not used: Jason Brookes, Alan Walker-Harris.