Woodford United
0
Slough Town
1
Sinclair (10)
League
Attendance: 149
Paul Edgeworth
Steve Sinclair's first-half strike proved the only goal of the game as Slough Town recorded a vital three points in the race for promotion.
Slough went into the game knowing that Woodford were unbeaten in eight league games, including winning their last five, so it came as no surprise that a close encounter was in store.
It was the Rebels who carved out the opening opportunity on a very difficult playing surface, with Elliot Buchanan playing a great ball to the impressive Steve Sinclair on the right. The winger dribbled forward and slipped Buchanan in on goal, but the striker drilled into the side-netting.
Slough’s early pressure paid off with a goal on ten minutes. Robbie Kean played a great ball to Buchanan in space in the box, and he unselfishly headed back across into the middle. Sean Sonner hit the post with an effort, but Sinclair latched onto the half-cleared ball and rifled it low past Matthew Finlay to give his side the lead and notch his third goal in four games.
As the game settled down, Nathan Bowden-Haase struck a snapshot wide for Slough whilst Chris Jackson saw his shot well charged down by Clark.
Buchanan had a great chance to double the lead midway through the half as Dean Clark played him in on goal, but he dragged his shot well wide on his favoured left foot.
Sinclair again got the better of his marker down the right hand side, and as Sonner blocked a clearance, the winger got free but found Finlay was equal to his shot and the ‘keeper blocked the ball well.
Woodford stepped up the pressure and put together long spells of possession, with Neil King and Nathaniel Liburd exerting more influence on proceedings – but the cutting edge was lacking, and another clear chance arrived for Slough as Bowden-Haase headed against the crossbar from a corner after Edgeworth’s initial header had gone across goal.
In the second half, Woodford’s Tom Fountain headed straight at Perks from Glen Hawkins’ cross, who had capitalised on a mistake from Danny Murphy.
Woodford started to get well on top in terms of possession, and Liburd saw a shot well blocked and another charged down after a good passing move. Glen Hawkins, who netted all four for his side in the midweek 4-3 victory at Stourport Swifts, turned and fired over as the hosts struggled to really test Perks despite their dominance on the ball, thanks in no small part to excellent performances from Paul Edgeworth and Bowden-Haase at the heart of the Slough defence.
Midway through the second half, Steve Bateman replaced his strikeforce, with Tommy Hayes and Simon Martin emerging from the bench, and Hayes almost had an immediate impact as he coolly slotted the ball past Finlay after being put through on goal, but his effort was disallowed after a push on his marker.
The hard-working Simon Martin looked effective in holding the ball up, and he headed another good chance straight at Finlay from six yards out, and could have sealed the win near the end with another chance after he was put clean through by a long Chris Herron pass, but he took too long and Finlay blocked.
Slough went into the game knowing that Woodford were unbeaten in eight league games, including winning their last five, so it came as no surprise that a close encounter was in store.
It was the Rebels who carved out the opening opportunity on a very difficult playing surface, with Elliot Buchanan playing a great ball to the impressive Steve Sinclair on the right. The winger dribbled forward and slipped Buchanan in on goal, but the striker drilled into the side-netting.
Slough’s early pressure paid off with a goal on ten minutes. Robbie Kean played a great ball to Buchanan in space in the box, and he unselfishly headed back across into the middle. Sean Sonner hit the post with an effort, but Sinclair latched onto the half-cleared ball and rifled it low past Matthew Finlay to give his side the lead and notch his third goal in four games.
As the game settled down, Nathan Bowden-Haase struck a snapshot wide for Slough whilst Chris Jackson saw his shot well charged down by Clark.
Buchanan had a great chance to double the lead midway through the half as Dean Clark played him in on goal, but he dragged his shot well wide on his favoured left foot.
Sinclair again got the better of his marker down the right hand side, and as Sonner blocked a clearance, the winger got free but found Finlay was equal to his shot and the ‘keeper blocked the ball well.
Woodford stepped up the pressure and put together long spells of possession, with Neil King and Nathaniel Liburd exerting more influence on proceedings – but the cutting edge was lacking, and another clear chance arrived for Slough as Bowden-Haase headed against the crossbar from a corner after Edgeworth’s initial header had gone across goal.
In the second half, Woodford’s Tom Fountain headed straight at Perks from Glen Hawkins’ cross, who had capitalised on a mistake from Danny Murphy.
Woodford started to get well on top in terms of possession, and Liburd saw a shot well blocked and another charged down after a good passing move. Glen Hawkins, who netted all four for his side in the midweek 4-3 victory at Stourport Swifts, turned and fired over as the hosts struggled to really test Perks despite their dominance on the ball, thanks in no small part to excellent performances from Paul Edgeworth and Bowden-Haase at the heart of the Slough defence.
Midway through the second half, Steve Bateman replaced his strikeforce, with Tommy Hayes and Simon Martin emerging from the bench, and Hayes almost had an immediate impact as he coolly slotted the ball past Finlay after being put through on goal, but his effort was disallowed after a push on his marker.
The hard-working Simon Martin looked effective in holding the ball up, and he headed another good chance straight at Finlay from six yards out, and could have sealed the win near the end with another chance after he was put clean through by a long Chris Herron pass, but he took too long and Finlay blocked.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Ricky Perks
- 2 Simon Sweeney
- 3 Danny Murphy
- 4 Rob Kean
- 5 Nathan Bowden-Haase
- 6 Dean Clark
- 7 Steve Sinclair
- 8 Chris Herron
- 9 Sean Sonner 12
- 10 Elliott Buchanan 17
- 11 Paul Edgeworth
Substitutes
- 12 Simon Martin 9
- 14 Dean Harper
- 15 Dwain Clarke
- 16 Kyle Jeffrey
- 17 Thomas Hayes 10
Woodford United Lineup
Finlay, Travers, Kinch, Harris, Jackson, Fountain, King, Liburd (Johnson), Forinton, Hawkins, Pearman (c). Subs not used: Parkinson, Fitton, Noubissie.