Sonner heads Rebels into quarter-final

Ashford Town (Middx)

Ashford Town (Middx)

1
Awuah (43)
Slough Town

Slough Town

2
Sonner (49, 85)
Red Insure Cup Attendance: 85 Sean Sonner
Slough Town came from behind and reached the last eight of the Red Insure Cup thanks to two second half goals from the head of Sean Sonner.

Manager Steve Bateman made seven changes to the starting eleven, and handed winger Ben Porter his first start - and the former Windsor player had a promising debut. Porter's effort was the first of the game as Slough started well, but Baptiste in the Ashford goal held the ball comfortably.

Garry Sippetts had a sniff of goal as the ball fell to him ten yards out, but he couldn't get enough on his effort. But after a good start, the hosts started playing the better football, winning a number of free kicks in dangerous areas - and Danny Murphy headed an attempt off the line to keep the scores level.

Slough upped the tempo and Sippetts went close from a corner, his header flashing across goal with nobody at the far post to finish. The Rebels went closer still as Porter slipped Sean Sonner through on goal, but the striker’s effort was cleared off the line well by young Ashford full-back Rob Curtis.

On the stroke of half-time, Ashford took the lead as Slough failed to clear their lines, leaving Jones Awuah the chance to smash his shot past Fanner and in off the crossbar.

Ashford could have taken a two goal half-time lead as Kanek blazed a shot over the bar, and the Tangerines were made to pay as, four minutes into the second half, Sam Bateman’s cross was headed at goal by Sonner, and through the hands of Baptiste who could only help the ball into the back of the net.

Slough started to dominate and should have gone ahead, but Garry Sippetts was denied by Baptiste as he was played through after a quick break – but at the other end Charlie Fanner was called upon to make a fine save stretching to his left.

As the game started to open up, more chances arrived for both sides. Baptiste denied Chris Herron with a fine low save as he cut inside onto his right foot, and moments later, Baptiste managed to get fingertips to another Herron shot, after both Bateman and Sippetts had been thwarted.

Ashford, managed by former Bradford City player Jamie Lawrence, also boasted former Bantams striker Isaiah Rankin, and whilst he looked a threat whilst on the ball, the danger was snuffed out well by Yiadom Yeboah and Adam Logie, and the hosts were kept quiet, save for a header from Awuah which went over Fanner's crossbar.

With the scores level and extra-time looming, Sonner rose unchallenged to head home Herron's delivery from a corner kick out on the right, earning himself a man-of-the-match award and Slough a place in the next round after a strong second half performance in which a lot of the 'fringe' players came to the fore.

Ashford Town (Middx) Lineup

Baptiste, Curtis, Edusei, Canderton, Butrus, Behi, Bitmead (Taffurelli), Hickie, Rankin, Awuah, Kanek (Luckins). Subs not used: Kazi, Kiffin, Burgess.

Rebels

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