Slough 2 Ashford 0

[Martin]

Slough eventually got the three points they needed after breaking dwon a hard working Ashford side thanks to two Danny Burnell penalties. He was fouled for both of them and there can be no real complaints on either count. Could have had a third for a clear hand ball on the line but the ref missed that one. Coyne motm for me running the game from midfield. Burnell's penalties were both very well taken and the first in particularly showed plenty of courage after Saturday.

 

Let's carry this form into Saturday and get the better of Biggleswade.

 

COYR

[chris sliski]

Not pretty ..but its just what we needed ... took a while to Break down a young looking Ashford team ..

 

well done Slough..but please go easy on my heart !

 

cheers chris s

[Ian]

And irrespective of a young Ashford side - a welcome clean sheet.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

It wasn't pretty at times but we kept going at them until something broke, well done to the team for doing so and getting the result. We did gift them a few decent chances but overall we played reasonably well. Some good passing football and we were unlucky on several chances.

Tough game to come Saturday, but we can do it, and given Daventry's bad run there is still a chance we could make 4th! COYR!

[Mark44]

I would personally welcome the opportunity to avoid Hitchin in the semi's and I think if we can make 4th we should go for it

 

COYR

[Rebel Yeller]

It certainly wasn't pretty and yet another example of a team we should have put away with greater ease. Ashford had three youth team players on the pitch, more on the bench and their 41 year old manager at centre forward. We were struggling badly until the first penalty which, whilst it was a penalty, was totally unneccessarily conceded. Danny had lost control of the ball and would have struggled to keep it in until Kazi came to our rescue and shoved him over.

 

Don't think the three up front idea worked. Not because three up front is bad, but because our three are all very similar players. But we can't do much about that now.

 

Still a win is a win and with Daventry in freefall we could snatch fourth which would at least raise the possibilty of a home final ( although Daventry would have to go some to win at Hitchin )

 

Can't understand the above post making Coyne MOTM. All of his passes went astray and I thought he had a poor game. People tell me that whenever I miss a match he plays well ( e.g. Daventry away ) so I must be a bad influence on him ! I am likely to miss the play off final so he will probably have a storming performance in that game. Let's hope he does.

[readingrebel]

It certainly wasn't pretty and yet another example of a team we should have put away with greater ease. Ashford had three youth team players on the pitch, more on the bench and their 41 year old manager at centre forward. We were struggling badly until the first penalty which, whilst it was a penalty, was totally unneccessarily conceded. Danny had lost control of the ball and would have struggled to keep it in until Kazi came to our rescue and shoved him over.

 

Don't think the three up front idea worked. Not because three up front is bad, but because our three are all very similar players. But we can't do much about that now.

 

Still a win is a win and with Daventry in freefall we could snatch fourth which would at least raise the possibilty of a home final ( although Daventry would have to go some to win at Hitchin )

 

Can't understand the above post making Coyne MOTM. All of his passes went astray and I thought he had a poor game. People tell me that whenever I miss a match he plays well ( e.g. Daventry away ) so I must be a bad influence on him ! I am likely to miss the play off final so he will probably have a storming performance in that game. Let's hope he does.

 

 

 

A home final on that poor excuse for a cabbage patch what an embarassment that would be.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

I thought that we did what we needed to do last night, we got the needed 3 points and a clean sheet. (how many times have we said that this season?)

 

I thought that Murphy played very well and in the first half he was outstanding at the back, preventing a couple of 1-on-1 situations. (MOTM Murphy)

 

Ben Abbey should never have been shown a yellow as he got it for not being ten yards from a freekick even though the ref didnt count out the ten yards.

 

 

Daventry still have to play bedfont at home and woodford away so still two tricky games.

 

 

[Windsor Rebel]

Thought we were good value for the win , although all credit to Ashford who had a few decent chances themselves. MOM for me was Danny Burnell, not

just for the penalties, but constant workrate. As for the ref, I am not normally one to criticise match officials but he was poor - maybe he was

nervous as he was being assessed last night? He missed a stonwall penalty for us (the handball by the post), and booked Ben Abbey after

failing to march him back ten yards from an Ashford free kick, what was all that about? Oh well, 1 more point needed, lets hope its on Saturday.

[Tom]

Congrats to Danny for his 100th appearance for the club last night.

 

I thought we looked nervous before the first goal and that settled the side down once they got it. Did what was needed and thats all that matters at this stage of the season.

[Mr Rebel]

no doubt their was tension out there last night but you had the feeling the players although feeling a bit of pressure were fully concentrated on getting the job done and winning the game

 

1st half the 3 strikers thing wasnt really working at all. Burnell was stuck completely out of his comfort zone and not where we need him i.e in and around the box. this improved 2nd half. can understand why we had Abbey starting along with Sonner and Burnell though. Abbey has been looking very sharp indeed

 

their fullbacks were absolutely terrible and perhaps in hindsight playing Herron would have got us more chances but we won so who cares

 

funny how the ref was at times beyond words shocking and yet we won by 2 penalties although it was impossible not to give them

 

i too would like to congratulate Danny Murphy on reaching 100 appearances for Slough. at times an unsung hero of the side

Edited April 20, 2011 by Mr Rebel

[Matt]

I thought we did well last night. We tried to play good football, but were always hampered by a terrible pitch which must be a nightmare to play on.

 

Danny Murphy defended excellently and Dan Burnell's two penalties were expertly taken under great pressure, especially after his miss on Saturday.

 

I didn't think much of the opposition, but Christian Nanetti is clearly far too good for this level and I thought Chris Seeby dealt with him well. Yes, a lot of free kicks were given away by the team but Seeby played a sensible game and stuck to his task, whereas normally he'd like to be bombing up the right flank.

 

Almost there now, one more point should do it but a win on Saturday would be great, to set us up for a cup final where anything could happen.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

Not really surprising that Danny has reached 100 appearances, Tuesday night was his 50th appearance of the season! Well done Danny for showing such dedication to the club in only a couple of seasons, great player.

 

Chris Seeby will also cross 50 appearances for the season on Saturday if he plays!

Edited April 21, 2011 by A Rebel and a Saint

[Mr Rebel]

just goes to show how lucky we have been to have the likes of Seeby, Murphy and till recently Sweeney playing almost every game without any real time out injured

 

one worry i had on Tuesday was that both Murphy and Burnell seemed to be struggling a bit when subbed

 

anyone know the return times for Adam Martin, Sinclair, Sweeney and Byrne??

[Windsor Rebel]

Sinclair is out for two games from the date of the Northwood game (spoke to him after the game). Not sure about the others.

[Nathan]

I felt that during the first half, we never really looked like scoring, and were quite lucky not to concede on a couple of occassions.

 

But in the second half, we were all over them. Chance after chance went begging, would we have scored had it not been for two moments of utter madness from the Ashford defence?

 

The sonner we get some big physical prescence up front to disrupt and confuse defences, the better IMHO.

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

Nathan - I think you mean sooner rather than Sonner - as he does disrupt and confuse defences!

[Nathan]

Ironic typo!

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

I am still trying to work out Tuesdays game, as at times in the first half we looked like a team who had never played together before. I am not sure if this was down to how Ashford played, the completely eratic decisions from the ref, or if it was nerves due to needing points to get into the play offs.

 

Ashfords number 11 had moments where he would have scared the best defence in this leauge, however we held solid and dealt with the threat - just.

 

In the second half you could see our confidence grow and the pressure forced the errors from Ashfords defence leading to the penalties.

 

Not one of our greatest games, but it could turn out to be one of the most critical ugly games we have won.

 

However under the cover second half it was one of the most passionate displays from a Slough crowd I have seen for a while, with the ref being hounded to make the right call - some he did, others he missed or ignored!?

 

Now need the team to hold their nerve and the supporters to give everything for the next two games to make sure we get there.