Slough Town
2
Coles (1, 87)
King's Lynn Town
2
King (15, 45+3)
League
Attendance: 822
Perry Coles
The game of the day was arguably at Arbour Park, where Perry Coles scored twice - including a late equaliser - against second-placed King’s Lynn Town, as Slough stretched their unbeaten run to six games.
Other results mean that the Rebels have now confirmed their place in the playoffs with four games to spare, whilst the Linnets’ faint hopes of capturing the league title suffered a massive blow with Hereford now just three points away from glory.
Slough stunned Lynn by scoring inside the first minute. A free kick was played long for Chris Flood to head on, and his flick found Coles in space, with the striker able to lift the ball over the stranded Alex Street, with a covering defender unable to clear the ball – the goal timed at 55 seconds, the second time Coles has netted in the opening minute since joining the club.
The Rebels threatened a second, and Coles almost turned provider as he ran clear down the right and pulled the ball across for Flood, but he was thwarted by Ryan Fryatt’s block tackle and Lynn cleared with ease.
At the other end, Jack Turner made a fine save from Ryan Hawkins’ fierce strike after the striker was released by a ball played from midfield.
However, Lynn were soon level with a well-worked goal. Michael Gash held the ball up expertly on the edge of the box and slipped it through to Cameron King, who was able to get to the ball just in front of the advancing Turner and poke it past him.
By this point, the visitors had suffered an injury blow with Fryatt unable to continue, and the introduction of Toby Hilliard necessitated a chance of shape.
Street needed to be alert to tip over a miscued cross from Scott Davies, but the goal threat dried up from the Rebels, with Lynn settling into the game and enjoying more of the possession.
The visitors had a goal chalked off on the half hour mark when King converted Gash’s header from close range, only to see the flag raised for offside.
Lynn threatened again as Hilliard stole in at the near post to connect with Cameron Norman’s cross, but a combination of Turner and Mark Nisbet blocked the effort.
As half time approached, Slough spurned a glorious chance to regain the lead. Nisbet sent Coles running clear, and the striker played the ball across to Flood, who chose to take two touches instead of getting a shot in, and Lynn recovered to clear the danger.
Instead, King went one better on the stroke of half time as he doubled his and King’s Lynn’s tally. Slough stood off the midfielder as he advanced, and were unable to prevent him unleashing a thunderous dipping shot which flew past Turner from around 30 yards.
Slough went straight on the attack in the second half, and after Coles had been denied by a good block, Lee Togwell ballooned the loose ball over the bar.
Street then produced a fantastic double save from Flood and Coles to preserve his side’s advantage, the goalkeeper smothering the loose ball – and Matt Lench sent a volley inches over the bar from Nathan Smart’s cross.
Lynn started to sit back and invite pressure as Slough threw on extra attacking players, with James Dobson and later Harrison Gilkes and Manny Williams all introduced. The visitors broke at pace and could well have killed the game off, but Gash put the ball wide under pressure from Smart after Hawkins had played it across.
Smart had a goal correctly ruled out for handball as he touched in a corner from Dobson as the Rebels mounted attack after attack – but Lynn remained a threat on the break and Turner again saved from Hawkins, this time with his legs as he stood up at his near post.
But three minutes from the end, Slough found the equaliser their efforts had deserved as Coles, who was a constant menace, again ran on to a flick from Flood before taking an excellent first touch and burying a low shot past Street.
Both sides had further chances to win it, but Togwell saved Slough with a heroic last-ditch tackle to deny Hawkins and then Street held a shot on the turn from Coles at the other end as it ended honours even.
Other results mean that the Rebels have now confirmed their place in the playoffs with four games to spare, whilst the Linnets’ faint hopes of capturing the league title suffered a massive blow with Hereford now just three points away from glory.
Slough stunned Lynn by scoring inside the first minute. A free kick was played long for Chris Flood to head on, and his flick found Coles in space, with the striker able to lift the ball over the stranded Alex Street, with a covering defender unable to clear the ball – the goal timed at 55 seconds, the second time Coles has netted in the opening minute since joining the club.
The Rebels threatened a second, and Coles almost turned provider as he ran clear down the right and pulled the ball across for Flood, but he was thwarted by Ryan Fryatt’s block tackle and Lynn cleared with ease.
At the other end, Jack Turner made a fine save from Ryan Hawkins’ fierce strike after the striker was released by a ball played from midfield.
However, Lynn were soon level with a well-worked goal. Michael Gash held the ball up expertly on the edge of the box and slipped it through to Cameron King, who was able to get to the ball just in front of the advancing Turner and poke it past him.
By this point, the visitors had suffered an injury blow with Fryatt unable to continue, and the introduction of Toby Hilliard necessitated a chance of shape.
Street needed to be alert to tip over a miscued cross from Scott Davies, but the goal threat dried up from the Rebels, with Lynn settling into the game and enjoying more of the possession.
The visitors had a goal chalked off on the half hour mark when King converted Gash’s header from close range, only to see the flag raised for offside.
Lynn threatened again as Hilliard stole in at the near post to connect with Cameron Norman’s cross, but a combination of Turner and Mark Nisbet blocked the effort.
As half time approached, Slough spurned a glorious chance to regain the lead. Nisbet sent Coles running clear, and the striker played the ball across to Flood, who chose to take two touches instead of getting a shot in, and Lynn recovered to clear the danger.
Instead, King went one better on the stroke of half time as he doubled his and King’s Lynn’s tally. Slough stood off the midfielder as he advanced, and were unable to prevent him unleashing a thunderous dipping shot which flew past Turner from around 30 yards.
Slough went straight on the attack in the second half, and after Coles had been denied by a good block, Lee Togwell ballooned the loose ball over the bar.
Street then produced a fantastic double save from Flood and Coles to preserve his side’s advantage, the goalkeeper smothering the loose ball – and Matt Lench sent a volley inches over the bar from Nathan Smart’s cross.
Lynn started to sit back and invite pressure as Slough threw on extra attacking players, with James Dobson and later Harrison Gilkes and Manny Williams all introduced. The visitors broke at pace and could well have killed the game off, but Gash put the ball wide under pressure from Smart after Hawkins had played it across.
Smart had a goal correctly ruled out for handball as he touched in a corner from Dobson as the Rebels mounted attack after attack – but Lynn remained a threat on the break and Turner again saved from Hawkins, this time with his legs as he stood up at his near post.
But three minutes from the end, Slough found the equaliser their efforts had deserved as Coles, who was a constant menace, again ran on to a flick from Flood before taking an excellent first touch and burying a low shot past Street.
Both sides had further chances to win it, but Togwell saved Slough with a heroic last-ditch tackle to deny Hawkins and then Street held a shot on the turn from Coles at the other end as it ended honours even.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Jack Turner
- 2 Nathan Smart
- 3 George Wells
- 4 Matt Day 18
- 5 Mark Nisbet
- 6 Lee Togwell
- 7 Matthew Lench
- 8 Scott Davies 16
- 9 Perry Coles
- 10 Chris Flood
- 11 Warren Harris 15
Substitutes
- 12 Sean Fraser
- 14 Guy Hollis
- 15 James Dobson 11
- 16 Harrison Gilkes 8
- 18 Manny Williams 4
King's Lynn Town Lineup
Alex Street, Cameron Norman, Frazer Blake-Tracy, Ryan Fryatt (Toby Hilliard), Tom Ward, Dion Frary, Cameron King (Craig Parker), Ryan Jarvis, Michael Gash, Ryan Hawkins, Simon Lappin. Unused substitute: Eoin McQuaid.