Slough step closer to the play-offs

Slough Town

Slough Town

2
Burnell (pen 63, pen 86)
Ashford Town (Middx)

Ashford Town (Middx)

0
League Attendance: 261 Danny Burnell
In a tight end to end game at Holloways Park, Slough secured three vital points against a hard working Ashford Town side in the race for the final play-off position.

On the dry, dusty, unpredictable surface at Holloways Park, Sean Sonner threatened first with a cross-shot, but Slough had an almighty let-off as Stuart Swift cleared a Max Webb effort off the line after a scramble from a corner.

Former QPR and Raith Rovers player Christian Nanetti was the best player for a patched-up Ashford side - missing a host of players including top scorer Jones Awuah and former professional Isaiah Rankin - and the diminutive Italian was a constant threat on the left side of midfield, the visitors winning a succession of free kicks thanks to his trickery.

However, the Middlesex side could not find a breakthrough, despite Nanetti’s best efforts, including a free kick which Bullivant did well to save low to his right.

In the second half, Slough stepped up the tempo and began to dominate their opponents. Sonner forced keeper Paul McCarthy into a good save and Slough should have been awarded a penalty for a clear handball by the post, with Webb touching Woozley’s effort wide.

But soon after, Swift played a ball over the top which Burnell headed on, and as the striker looked to get around Samad Kazi to bear down on goal, the left-back took a poor touch and then hauled the Rebels top scorer down to the ground for a clear penalty kick, this time awarded by referee Lee Forrester.

Dan Burnell, who put a spot kick wide at Leighton on Saturday, placed the kick low to McCarthy’s left and into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.

Slough almost immediately doubled their lead, but McCarthy reacted quickly to save a Woozley header from Coyne’s free kick.

Woozley went close again with a volley from Swift’s free kick which McCarthy tipped over, whilst player-manager Jamie Lawrence, the former Jamaica international, forced another good save from Bullivant with a free kick.

Burnell had the opportunity to take another penalty and seal the points with four minutes remaining. Both Burnell and Ben Abbey chased a long ball forward, and as McCarthy came rushing out to clear, Burnell touched the ball past him, leaving the goalkeeper in no man’s land and Burnell with a clear sight of goal. McCarthy reached out to grab Burnell and the striker hit the turf, with another penalty the inevitable result, along with a red card for McCarthy.

Ashford brought on Paul Burgess to take the gloves - but the result was the same from Burnell, this time slamming his kick high past the keeper to seal the points.

Ashford Town (Middx) Lineup

McCarthy, Butkus, Kazi (Burgess), Canderton, Jeffreys (c), Mann, Fountain, Webb, Lawrence, Taffurelli (Wood), Nanetti. Subs not used: Hernandez, Soloman, Green.

Rebels

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