Slough beaten by second half strikes at Chippenham

Slough leave Hardenhuish Park disappointed as two second-half strikes condemn them to defeat.

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Slough lost the battle of these two mid-table sides at Hardenhuish Park after failing to take advantage of early opportunities and being punished by two second-half strikes.

The Rebels’ clearest chance of the match by far was squandered in the opening minutes, leaving supporters wondering how they had failed to take the lead.

Billy Jeffreys headed down a corner for Eddie Smith, but the striker could only hit the post from a matter of yards out. Scott Harris tried to turn in the rebound, but his effort was blocked on the line by Jon Beeden.

Sean Fraser found himself in an advanced position from right-wing back and fired well wide from 20 yards, whilst Harris saw another shot blocked after he had done well to control Dan Brown’s initial effort.

Slough continued to press, and Jake Parsons had an effort tipped wide by Kent Kauppinen in the Chippenham goal.

Chippenham’s attacks were few and far between, with Ashan Holgate looking the most likely to threaten Luke Williams’ goal. The striker failed to get a proper connection on an Alex Ferguson cross, and the ball rolled wide.

Kauppinen held another long-range effort from Jake Parsons before Williams almost presented Holgate with an opening after miskicking horribly, but the keeper recovered well to put the striker off and force him wide of goal.

Slough were frustrated again as Adam Martin’s goalbound effort hit the head of Greg Tindle and flew wide, and the Rebels failed to take advantage of numerous corner kicks, with Kauppinen winning the aerial battle.

After the break the balance swung in Chippenham’s favour. Early on, Williams needed to get down low to save a well-struck shot from Jordan Roberts, and Jack Odam shot well over after running into space.

Kauppinen produced another splendid save from Jake Parsons, again diving to his left to turn behind a strike from outside the box.

But with 59 minutes on the clock, the hosts opened the scoring. A high ball into the box eventually landed at the feet of Roberts, who found a bit of space to drive a low shot past Williams and into the bottom corner.

Jake Parsons lifted the ball over the bar from the edge of the box after Kauppinen was caught out of possession from losing a race with Smith, but still Slough could not find a way through to goal, and the Rebels were again punished on 71 minutes.

This time, Ferguson got the goal after driving forward to the edge of the box and exchanging passes with Roberts, and he beat Williams with a low shot, also into the bottom corner.

A series of late substitutions, including the return of George Short to the fold, could not help the Rebels fight back, and Smith could only offer a late volley which flew well over the bar for a Slough side struggling for goals of late.