Bishop's Stortford
0
Slough Town
1
Langley (65)
League
Attendance: 405
Jeff Bateman
Points make prizes! With Slough shredding their attractive football as the season draws to a nail- biting championship finish, this is the formula they have drawn on.
Stortford had adopted the role of bogey side for the Rebels over the past few seasons and were going full pelt to bring a run of four consecutive home defeats to an end but Tommy Langley put paid to that.
Bishops always seem to get the rub of the green against the Rebels, and that's the way it continued on Saturday- though a brave ,battling performance and a quality goal settled it.
A dull match with a no score draw was in prospect but Tommy Langley notched the all important strike that wins championships in this situation.
Home advantage and a nervous Slough combined to see Stortford start slightly more convincingly, and with the ball often in the air neither side could hold onto a spell of possession.
The referee was incessant with his whistle - blowing on aerial challenges, but some decisions involving the hand were missed. One such incident deprived Slough of an early lead, Neal Stanley challenging for a free kick in the home side's penalty area seemed to have the ball punched off his head.
The first real positive move came in the 21st minute, when Martin Taylor was tested for the first time. Stanley had been brought down on the edge of the box, and Robbie Johnson's low free kick was well held.
The Rebels began to get on top as the half wore on, and another dubious challenge in the Stortford box - Steve Thompson sandwiched between two players with the ball left to run out, went unpunished.
The home side seemed to still get lucky - loose balls running into the paths of their players and the benefit of the referee 's decisions going their way. Barry Rake was denied when his volley was blocked at the far post, and though Slough had a better second half, a total lack of urgency and the match being played at a canter meant nothing looked on the cards.
Jeff Bateman's header to clear ranks was just wide of his own target as Slough were beginning to lack venom and control in midfield and upfront.
Steve Thompson managed to whip in a cross which was nodded off Mark Adams head, and from the resultant corner Neal Stanley fired wide.
Shortly after Adams had the ball at his feet six yards out but the surface made it too hard to control and it ran away to be cleared.
With 65 minutes gone Stanley won the ball in midfield, set up Thompson who played in Adams cutting down the left. Adams laid the ball back and Tommy Langley cracked the ball home from 12 yards for the winner.
The Rebels seemed to lose their way slightly in the last 10 minutes. Pat Ryan getting in to find both Manderson and Spence with far post crosses in separate incidents.
Manderson also found himself in the book when he caught Barry Rake in the face- but it was the Rebels who eventually stole the points without any fuss or anxious moments.
Stortford had adopted the role of bogey side for the Rebels over the past few seasons and were going full pelt to bring a run of four consecutive home defeats to an end but Tommy Langley put paid to that.
Bishops always seem to get the rub of the green against the Rebels, and that's the way it continued on Saturday- though a brave ,battling performance and a quality goal settled it.
A dull match with a no score draw was in prospect but Tommy Langley notched the all important strike that wins championships in this situation.
Home advantage and a nervous Slough combined to see Stortford start slightly more convincingly, and with the ball often in the air neither side could hold onto a spell of possession.
The referee was incessant with his whistle - blowing on aerial challenges, but some decisions involving the hand were missed. One such incident deprived Slough of an early lead, Neal Stanley challenging for a free kick in the home side's penalty area seemed to have the ball punched off his head.
The first real positive move came in the 21st minute, when Martin Taylor was tested for the first time. Stanley had been brought down on the edge of the box, and Robbie Johnson's low free kick was well held.
The Rebels began to get on top as the half wore on, and another dubious challenge in the Stortford box - Steve Thompson sandwiched between two players with the ball left to run out, went unpunished.
The home side seemed to still get lucky - loose balls running into the paths of their players and the benefit of the referee 's decisions going their way. Barry Rake was denied when his volley was blocked at the far post, and though Slough had a better second half, a total lack of urgency and the match being played at a canter meant nothing looked on the cards.
Jeff Bateman's header to clear ranks was just wide of his own target as Slough were beginning to lack venom and control in midfield and upfront.
Steve Thompson managed to whip in a cross which was nodded off Mark Adams head, and from the resultant corner Neal Stanley fired wide.
Shortly after Adams had the ball at his feet six yards out but the surface made it too hard to control and it ran away to be cleared.
With 65 minutes gone Stanley won the ball in midfield, set up Thompson who played in Adams cutting down the left. Adams laid the ball back and Tommy Langley cracked the ball home from 12 yards for the winner.
The Rebels seemed to lose their way slightly in the last 10 minutes. Pat Ryan getting in to find both Manderson and Spence with far post crosses in separate incidents.
Manderson also found himself in the book when he caught Barry Rake in the face- but it was the Rebels who eventually stole the points without any fuss or anxious moments.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Gary Lester
- 2 Trevor How
- 3 Robbie Johnson
- 4 Tony Knight
- 5 Jeff Bateman
- 6 Gary Dodd
- 7 Barry Rake
- 8 Neal Stanley 12
- 9 Tommy Langley
- 10 Steve Thompson
- 11 Mark Adams
Substitutes
- 12 Tony Dell 8
- 14 Bobby Dell