Slough Town drop bottom of the table after losing to Chippenham Town

Chippenham Town 2, Slough Town 1

Slough Town dropped bottom of the National League South table this afternoon (Monday) after losing another evenly matched encounter against Chippenham Town.

Rebels’ manager Scott Davies must be wondering what he’s done to deserve the sort of bad luck his side have had this season, however, as he said after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Torquay United, if it keeps happening ‘it isn’t bad luck’.

Today’s 2-1 defeat at Chippenham was their fifth of the season and means they’ve picked up just three points from their six matches so far. It’s also the fourth time they’ve lost by that scoreline, and it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to suggest they’ve deserved more from each of those narrow defeats.

The afternoon also featured a milestone, with Matt Lench coming off the bench to make his 200th appearance for the Rebels. Johnny Goddard, the player he replaced in the second half, also notched up a half century of appearances in the game.

This was another fast and frenetic game with chances created at both ends in the opening 20 minutes. Temi Eweka made a crucial block to deny Luke Spokes powerful strike in the eighth minute, while Nathan Minhas was denied from close range after good work from George Alexander down the wing a couple of minutes later. Centre half Dan Bayliss then went closer still with a header that was cleared off the line with the Chippenham keeper beaten in the 13th minute.

Chippenham striker Eddie Jones hit the woodwork with a cross-come-shot midway through the half before the Rebels missed a couple of good chances in the space of a few minutes. First Goddard’s low strike was pushed away by Henry, then Eweka steered the ball wide from close range after 22 minutes.

However, Chippenham were presented with the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot in the 26th minute, after Gabe George brought down Craig Fasanmade in the box. Owen Windsor scored at the second attempt after his spot-kick was saved by Rohan Luthra.

Once again, Slough responded well, with Goddard curling against the post after 36 minutes, and it looked like their luck might change when Josh Jackman hooked home an equaliser on the stroke of half-time after a scramble in the Chippenham area. Video replays were somewhat inconclusive, but Alexander may have got the crucial final touch to divert the ball past Henry. Buoyed by this, Alexander went close again on the hour mark with a curling effort that drifted just wide of the far post.

Unfortunately, Slough haven’t been disciplined enough in defence this season and Matt McClure came off the bench to score with his first touch in the 61st minute.

Desperate to avoid a fifth league defeat, the Rebels pressed forward again with David Ogbonna’s powerful header tipped over in the 71st minute and Alexander just failing to touch home Lench’s dangerous cross with 10 minutes to play.

However, once again it wasn’t Slough’s day and Davies must be starting to wonder when it will be their day. As the club’s twitter account said afterwards this was another ‘tough one to take on the road’.

They’re back at Arbour Park this Saturday against 17th placed Tonbridge Angels.