Weston-super-Mare
0
Slough Town
3
Alexander (4, 22, pen 41)
League
Attendance: 1030
Slough Town secured their first three points of the season at The Optima Stadium after a superb first half display in which George Alexander scored a hat-trick.
The Rebels went into the game pointless after defeats in their opening three games, but it was a different story for Weston-super-Mare who had a 100% record, including a 6-2 thrashing of Somerset rivals Bath City the previous Tuesday.
Buoyed by the return of Temi Eweka on a permanent basis, Slough lined up with a back four, Eweka partnered in the centre of defence by fellow ex-Bracknell Town player Dan Bayliss. Scott Davies opted for a three-man attack, with Tom McElroy and Nathan Minhas joining Alexander in attack.
And Slough got off to the best possible start with a goal in just the fourth minute. Davies drove into the box and played the ball across where Alexander pounced, getting a toe to the ball before Weston defender Lloyd Humphries deflected it into his own net.
Weston looked for an immediate response as Dayle Grubb found Jason Pope on the left, who cut inside and saw his near-post effort pushed aside by Hubert Graczyk for a corner.
There was more joy on 22 minutes as Alexander added his second with a neat finish. Davies was again the creator, playing a through ball to the striker who lifted it over the advancing goalkeeper Harry Lee from the edge of the box.
Graczyk was called into action again as he turned behind a powerful drive from Rex Mannings.
With half time approaching, Minhas brought the ball under control and ran into the box before being felled by Sam Avery. The referee pointed to the spot and showed Avery a red card, judging the defender to be the last man. Alexander stepped up to the spot and confidently fired beyond Lee for his hat-trick.
There was still time for Alexander to almost add another before the half time whistle, but he struck the ball straight at Lee.
Minhas had the first chance of the second period, firing just wide of the far post after McElroy’s shot was deflected into his path.
There were chances for both sides, with Marlon Jackson latching onto a cross from Mannings and putting a first-time shot off target, and later Slough skipper Josh Jackman saw a 20-yard strike narrowly clear the crossbar. Three minutes later, McElroy almost registered his first Slough goal after being teed up by Davies, but Lee tipped the ball over.
Chances were few and far between as Slough managed the game well against their ten-man opposition, making three changes with Leon Chambers-Parillon, Johnny Goddard and David Ogbonna all introduced.
The best that Weston could produce was a low 25-yard shot from Dayle Grubb which flashed narrowly past the far post, while Alexander had yet another chance to add to his tally late on, but he volleyed over a cross from Goddard.
Slough now look ahead to a return to Arbour Park and the visit of Torquay United next Saturday.
The Rebels went into the game pointless after defeats in their opening three games, but it was a different story for Weston-super-Mare who had a 100% record, including a 6-2 thrashing of Somerset rivals Bath City the previous Tuesday.
Buoyed by the return of Temi Eweka on a permanent basis, Slough lined up with a back four, Eweka partnered in the centre of defence by fellow ex-Bracknell Town player Dan Bayliss. Scott Davies opted for a three-man attack, with Tom McElroy and Nathan Minhas joining Alexander in attack.
And Slough got off to the best possible start with a goal in just the fourth minute. Davies drove into the box and played the ball across where Alexander pounced, getting a toe to the ball before Weston defender Lloyd Humphries deflected it into his own net.
Weston looked for an immediate response as Dayle Grubb found Jason Pope on the left, who cut inside and saw his near-post effort pushed aside by Hubert Graczyk for a corner.
There was more joy on 22 minutes as Alexander added his second with a neat finish. Davies was again the creator, playing a through ball to the striker who lifted it over the advancing goalkeeper Harry Lee from the edge of the box.
Graczyk was called into action again as he turned behind a powerful drive from Rex Mannings.
With half time approaching, Minhas brought the ball under control and ran into the box before being felled by Sam Avery. The referee pointed to the spot and showed Avery a red card, judging the defender to be the last man. Alexander stepped up to the spot and confidently fired beyond Lee for his hat-trick.
There was still time for Alexander to almost add another before the half time whistle, but he struck the ball straight at Lee.
Minhas had the first chance of the second period, firing just wide of the far post after McElroy’s shot was deflected into his path.
There were chances for both sides, with Marlon Jackson latching onto a cross from Mannings and putting a first-time shot off target, and later Slough skipper Josh Jackman saw a 20-yard strike narrowly clear the crossbar. Three minutes later, McElroy almost registered his first Slough goal after being teed up by Davies, but Lee tipped the ball over.
Chances were few and far between as Slough managed the game well against their ten-man opposition, making three changes with Leon Chambers-Parillon, Johnny Goddard and David Ogbonna all introduced.
The best that Weston could produce was a low 25-yard shot from Dayle Grubb which flashed narrowly past the far post, while Alexander had yet another chance to add to his tally late on, but he volleyed over a cross from Goddard.
Slough now look ahead to a return to Arbour Park and the visit of Torquay United next Saturday.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Hubert Graczyk
- 2 Josh Jackman
- 5 Dan Bayliss
- 6 Jeanmal Prosper
- 9 Nathan Minhas 23
- 13 Temi Eweka
- 14 Scott Davies 12
- 15 Tom McElroy 10
- 17 Tyrese Dyce
- 18 Munashe Sundire
- 24 George Alexander
Substitutes
- 3 Gabriel George
- 4 Joe Dandy
- 10 Johnny Goddard 15
- 12 Leon Chambers-Parillon 14
- 23 David Ogbonna 9
Weston-super-Mare Lineup
Harry Lee, Keiran Thomas, Jason Pope, Jacob Jagger-Cane, Lloyd Humphries, Sam Avery, Rex Mannings, James Dodd, Marlon Jackson, Dayle Grubb (c), Jordan Bastin. Substitutes: James Morton, Luke Purnell, Jamie Soule, Ed James, Reuben Reid.