SLOUGH TOWN 2

Williams 8, Lench 45

DORCHESTER TOWN 0

DORCHESTER’S poor away league form continued as they were beaten 2-0 by a dominant Slough Town in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division.

Slough’s first-half intensity was too much for the Magpies, who conceded on eight minutes when Manny Williams swept home Guy Hollis’ deflected shot.

Dorchester lost Luke Winsper to an ankle injury after 17 minutes and Slough continued to press, creating numerous chances before Matt Lench punished a poor clearance to double the Rebels’ lead.

The Magpies did improve in the second half as Archie Collins and Sam Lanahan tested Jack Turner, who was also equal to a David Jerrard shot.

Ultimately, though, this was another disappointing Magpies’ away day.

Dorchester selected an unchanged starting XI from the one that began the 1-0 win over Redditch United on Saturday.

There were two changes to the matchday squad, with David Jerrard deemed fit enough to take his place on the bench in place of Jon Ross, having recovered from an ankle knock. Ollie Griggs was the other absentee and was replaced by Chris Clarke.

Slough came into the game having won their last four games against Dorchester and their dominance over the Magpies spilled into the early exchanges as Steve Thompson’s men barely had a touch of the ball.

Slough’s James Dobson was the first to register a shot at goal, but he blasted his effort wide of keeper Chris Weale’s uprights.

Forward Ben Harris was proving a particular nuisance to Dorchester in the opening minutes, winning a free-kick from which Dobson earned a corner. After Dorchester cleared the delivery, Williams could only guide a header wide from the cross in.

But it was the diligent Ben Harris who had a major hand in the Rebels’ first goal, faking a cross and earning a corner from Callum Rose’s tackle, before Hollis drove in a shot that ricocheted around the box, landing perfectly for Williams to sweep home from eight yards.

Dorchester responded when Kyle Egan’s deflected cross earned the visitors a corner, but Archie Collins’ ball in was wayward and Slough cleared easily.

Shortly after Warren Harris headed wide for Slough, Winsper picked up an ankle injury following a late challenge and was replaced by Dom Panesar-Dower.

Weale was on hand to make an excellent save from Warren Harris, tipping his shot onto the post, before a quiet spell ensued following Winsper’s substitution.

Williams spurned a headed chance on the half-hour but when Ben Harris was booked for a poor tackle on Collins, Egan could only float the free-kick out of play in a moment that summed up a frustrating half for the Magpies.

Weale was called into action once more as Slough piled forward in the closing stages of the half, saving with his feet from Ben Harris before Warren Harris blazed the rebound over.

Ben Harris then repeated the trick after Lench’s shot was saved, but the Rebels man notched his 12th goal of the season just before half-time when Dorchester’s attempted clearance fell to the Slough midfielder, whose accurate shot beat Weale.

Slough quickly assumed control upon the resumption and Williams missed two excellent chances in quick succession, firstly failing to apply a finishing touch to Ben Harris’ cross, before heading over the bar from inside the area.

Dorchester did improve as the second half endured, with Neil Martin’s deep cross finding Collins, but the Exeter loanee’s header was easily gathered by Jack Turner in the Slough goal.

Following a superb sliding block by Rose from Dobson’s shot, Dorchester put together their best move of the match when Collins and Lanahan combined, but Lanahan’s shot did not trouble Turner, who was able to claim.

The Magpies continued to press for a goal and after winning a corner, Collins’ delivery was flicked on by substitute Jerrard, before Rose saw a shot bravely blocked by a crowd of Slough defenders.

Jerrard then exchanged passes with fellow sub Ed Bastick, but saw his shot saved low by Turner after Bastick’s strong run.

Slough really should have made it three, only to come across a brilliant save from Weale, who tipped over Chris Flood’s header from a Lench free-kick.

But despite Dorchester’s second-half improvement they could not find a way past Turner as Slough comfortably saw out the win at a chilly Arbour Park.

Slough: Turner, Fraser, Wells, Hollis, Nisbet, Togwell, Dobson (Webb 85), Lench, B Harris (Flood 56), Williams (Wadkins 75), W Harris. Subs not used: Inns, Smart

Magpies: Weale, Egan, Martin, Rose, Carmichael, Bowles, Winsper (Panesar-Dower 17), Lowes (Jerrard 64), Collins, Lanahan, Ebbutt (Bastick 74). Subs not used: Blair, Clarke

Referee: George Warren

Attendance: 436

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