Hitchin Town
0
Slough Town
1
Lench (70)
League
Attendance: 321
Sean Fraser
Rebels joint manager Jon Underwood praised his side for putting in another professional performance as Slough won their fifth consecutive away match on Monday evening.
The result moves Slough onto 90 points and back up to fourth place, as the race for a home playoff semi-final intensifies.
Slough had more of the play in the first half without troubling Hitchin goalkeeper Josh Mollison unduly. The Rebels worked the ball very effectively into wide areas and created a couple of near-misses, with Manny Williams inches away from meeting a cross from Sean Fraser and Mollison reacting well to cut out a cross from Warren Harris before Perry Coles could make contact.
Coles had Slough’s best chance of the half on 20 minutes as he was played through with only Mollison to beat, but the keeper made a decent save.
Mollison was on hand again to save James Dobson’s flick from a Matt Lench free kick later on.
Slough’s dominance continued in the second half as Hitchin continued to sit back and try to hit the Rebels on the break. The Rebels forced a number of corners, and eventually one fell for Coles, but he blasted the ball well over.
Hitchin’s best effort came from a Charlie Smith free kick on the hour mark – but Jack Turner was equal to the effort, making a good save to turn the ball behind.
The introduction of Chris Flood would prove to have a big impact on the game, as the visitors took the lead with twenty minutes remaining.
Dobson put in a fine cross which Flood headed onto the inside of the post, and the ball may well have been on its way over the line but former Canaries favourite Lench stole in to make sure.
Tired legs played a part as the game wore on and Hitchin started to create chances, but Patrick Tshikala fired over and Turner saved another free kick – and Slough managed to see the rest of the match out and seal the three points.
The result moves Slough onto 90 points and back up to fourth place, as the race for a home playoff semi-final intensifies.
Slough had more of the play in the first half without troubling Hitchin goalkeeper Josh Mollison unduly. The Rebels worked the ball very effectively into wide areas and created a couple of near-misses, with Manny Williams inches away from meeting a cross from Sean Fraser and Mollison reacting well to cut out a cross from Warren Harris before Perry Coles could make contact.
Coles had Slough’s best chance of the half on 20 minutes as he was played through with only Mollison to beat, but the keeper made a decent save.
Mollison was on hand again to save James Dobson’s flick from a Matt Lench free kick later on.
Slough’s dominance continued in the second half as Hitchin continued to sit back and try to hit the Rebels on the break. The Rebels forced a number of corners, and eventually one fell for Coles, but he blasted the ball well over.
Hitchin’s best effort came from a Charlie Smith free kick on the hour mark – but Jack Turner was equal to the effort, making a good save to turn the ball behind.
The introduction of Chris Flood would prove to have a big impact on the game, as the visitors took the lead with twenty minutes remaining.
Dobson put in a fine cross which Flood headed onto the inside of the post, and the ball may well have been on its way over the line but former Canaries favourite Lench stole in to make sure.
Tired legs played a part as the game wore on and Hitchin started to create chances, but Patrick Tshikala fired over and Turner saved another free kick – and Slough managed to see the rest of the match out and seal the three points.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Jack Turner
- 2 Sean Fraser
- 3 George Wells
- 4 Guy Hollis
- 5 Mark Nisbet
- 6 Scott Davies
- 7 James Dobson
- 8 Matthew Lench
- 9 Perry Coles 17
- 10 Manny Williams
- 11 Warren Harris
Substitutes
- 12 Nathan Smart
- 14 Matt Day
- 15 Lee Togwell
- 16 Harrison Gilkes
- 17 Chris Flood 9
Hitchin Town Lineup
Josh Mollison, Toby Syme, Daniel Olaniran, Lewis Rolfe, Dan Webb (c) (Jonny McNamara), Kevin Byrne, Hugo Logan, Matthew Spring (Josh Bickerstaff), Connor Vincent (Desejado Da Silva), Patrick Tshikala, Charlie Smith. Unused substitutes: Josh Coley, Kieran Barnes.