Martini's men beat Rebels
Godalming Town
Wales (14), Ellouhmani (82)
2
Slough Town
0
Date: Saturday, 1st March, 2008 | Attendance: 195 | Man Of Match: Terry Davies
Starting line-up
Ross Ketteridge
Chris Robinson
John Gray
Steve Daly
Brian Connor
Dave Barratt
Laurence Brown
Meddie Nsubuga
Jermaine Gumbs
Terry Davies
Lee Rendell
Thomas Attrell
James Suarez
Abby Nsubuga
Jason Marney
Richard Barnard
Substitutes
Substitutes
Slough Town's miserable away record continued with another disappointing defeat, this time at Godalming Town.
With a number of players struggling for fitness due to a bug, Slough had to shuffle their pack. Dean Harper fell victim to the virus and was bed-ridden, leading to a change of formation to 4-4-2 with Gray coming in at left back, Connor into the middle to replace Harper, and Barratt in to replace Abby Nsubuga on the right of the midfield four.
The match was slow to get going, with Chris Wales forcing an early save from Ketteridge, retaining his place in goal despite the presence of Richard Barnard on the sidelines, and Slough survived the first chance of the match.
Godalming showed off their secret weapon with Richard Taylor's long throw from the right wing falling to Brahim Ellouhmani, who could not keep his effort down at the back post. At the other end, Daly was causing a nuisance of himself at set pieces, but the Rebels couldn't fashion a clear sight of goal.
However, the hosts were successful second time round with one of Taylor's long throws. Chris Wales found some space at the back post and slotted back across goal from just inside the six yard box to put Godalming ahead.
Slough were finding it hard to break through the home defence. On one such occasion, Jermaine Gumbs beat his marker on the left but his cross-shot was easily collected by Mann at his near post.
The best spell of football in the game up to that point saw Slough work the ball well to Barratt in the middle of the park. He fired in a low curling first time effort which Mann saved well to his left.
With stand-in skipper Steve Daly calling to a few of his players to show composure, Slough were looking more dangerous when passing to feet instead of playing the long-ball game to Davies and Gumbs, which only worked in favour of the Godalming defence.
Manager Mark Betts had clearly seen enough and made two half-time changes, with Robinson and Barratt replaced by Abby Nsubuga and Suarez. A change of formation resulted, with Brown slotting into the back three and Suarez into the middle of the park.
Slough started to look the better side, and took control of the second half without forcing too many clear goal scoring opportunities. A Terry Davies corner found Rendell at the back post who forced a good save from Mann at close range.
Soon after, a left wing cross from Gray was met by Abby Nsubuga, who won the challenge against the keeper, but the ball landed on the roof of the net.
Slough were working the ball down the left to good effect when possible, and on one such occasion, Rendell cut the ball back to Gumbs, but his deft chipped effort was collected comfortably.
However, all of Slough's fleeting moments of pressure amounted to nothing, and a deflected shot from Brahim Ellouhmani found the corner of the net in the 83rd minute with Ketteridge wrong footed to put the game beyond the visitors.
The Rebels tried in vain to grab a consolation goal, with a goalmouth bundle from an in-swinging corner resulting in substitute Jason Marney prodding over the bar under pressure deep into stoppage time.
Opposition: 1. Matt Mann, 2. Michael Cook, 3. Shaun Elliott, 4. James Laister, 5. Yousef Metnali, 6. Richard Taylor (c), 7. James Mariner, 8. Richard Brightwell, 9. Graeme Purdy, 10. Brahim Ellouhmani, 11. Chris Wales.
Subs: 12. Adam Haddad, 14. Denisas Zadiekis, 15. Ansone Patterson, 16. Michael Perrineau-Daley, 17. Garry Aulsberry.
Saturday, 13th March
