Roberts on target as Rebels beat in-form Darts

Dan Roberts scored the only goal of the game to give Slough Town their first win of 2020 and keep them firmly in the hunt for a playoff place.

This was an excellent three points against a Dartford side which came into the game off the back of five consecutive league wins.

It took a little while for the game to get going, with both sides feeling each other out knowing it would be a tight affair.

Dartford had the first chance on 10 minutes when Nick Arnold crossed the ball across the box to Sanchez Ming on the other side. He took a touch before firing low, but it was blocked by George Wells. Slough then quickly gave away a dangerous free kick on the edge of the box but Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong saw his effort deflect off the wall into the arms of Jack Turner.

The Rebels thought they had taken the lead on 12 minutes. A deep cross from Max Worsfold was headed back across by Warren Harris to an unmarked Roberts who easily swept home, only to be denied by an offside flag.

Slough were pressing high up the pitch when Matt Lench won the ball back. Pushing forward and cutting back onto his favoured right foot, he curled in a low shot which Alhaji Sesay parried. Lee Togwell nearly made the most of the free ball but Sesay was able to recover and reclaim it just ahead of him.

A few minutes later the Rebels came close again. Following a corner, the ball was played out to Warren Harris who drilled in a low cross which Sam Togwell dummied to leave for Ryan Bird, but his shot was wild and flew over the bar.

As soon as the clock reached the 32nd minute the Slough fans joined as one to sing “Super Kev McGoldrick” to honour the club’s beloved physio on the second anniversary of his passing. Having scored once before during the tributes, against Hitchin Town last year, it very nearly happened again. A Worsfold free kick was glanced towards goal by Sam Togwell but just wide.

However, with the chants just finishing the Rebels did take the lead. George Wells won the ball on the halfway line with Dartford well up the field, and drove forward into space before hitting one of his trademark long shots. The ball moved in the air and Sesay was only able to parry but with the ball still in play, Sesay lay on the ground a little too long and allowed Dan Roberts to poach a goal. Sesay remained down for a few moments later complaining of a shoulder injury, but was able to complete the full 90 minutes without any other problems.

The final chance of the half came from a long Guy Hollis throw in, which was left by the first defender allowing Roberts an opportunity but his effort was weak and easily saved.

Dartford got in the first shot of the second half; a long cross-field ball found Luke Wanadio in space but with the angle tightening his shot was fairly routine for Jack Turner to save.

A minute later Slough went up the other end of the pitch and won a dangerous free kick centrally 25 yards out. Lench stepped up but his effort landed on the roof of the net rather than in it.

Early in the half the Rebels pressed their opponents high up the pitch, with Roberts profiting on one occasion - but like Wanadio a few moments earlier, the angle was against him and Sesay saved once more.

On 58 minutes Wanadio had another chance, this time in a more favourable part of the pitch but he pulled his shot and it went wide without troubling the goal.

The Darts had a free kick seven minutes later from which they nearly equalised in fortuitous circumstances. Wells headed powerfully away but straight at his teammate Lench, and Turner had to be alert to claim it.

Slough became content with their lead and ability to hold on to it, starting to sit deeper and hit the visitors on the counter-attack rather than looking to control the match themselves. Despite changes from both sides there was no addition to the score and The Rebels held on to their lead until the end.

The final moment of note came five minutes from time, when Sanchez Ming - who had already been shown a yellow card in the first half - began to get more and more frustrated and pushed one of the linesmen after he had given a throw-in against him. After a brief talk with his colleague, referee Wootton showed Ming a straight red card.

Report: Will Tuck
Image: Aaron Walster