NEIL Baker admits that Slough Town were not quite at the races when they began the New Year with a 2-1 defeat to Chesham United on Bank Holiday Monday.

Slough conceded a first-half lead to lose at Arbour Park, their third home league defeat this season, and have dropped a place to third in the Southern Premier Division table, two points behind leaders Leamington.

Though Baker has admitted the Rebels did not show enough quality to beat Chesham, he has argued that a draw would have been a fair result.

The Slough joint-manager told the Observer: “I don’t think it was the right result because Chesham only had two chances in the game. We had a lot of the game without really showing the quality.

“A draw would have been a fair result. I don’t think we did enough to win the game and they didn’t deserve to win it so a draw would probably have been a fair result.

“Chesham will be delighted, it was a big, big win for them, but it’s back to the drawing board for us. It’s just one of those days where we haven’t got the points.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Gavin James (10) puts Slough Town into the lead at Arbour Park on Monday. PIC: Mike Swift.

“Fortunately Leamington lost and Chippenham dropped points as well, only Hitchin won. It could have been worse but it’s an opportunity missed.”

Slough slipped to defeat against Chesham, who scored twice in two minutes in the second-half to turn the game on its head.

The opening goal came on 21 minutes and courtesy of Gavin James, but it owed much to the trickery of James Dobson on the left wing.

Dobson beat two defenders and drove into the box where he set up Lee Togwell for a strike.

Ashley Jones could only parry the shot and James made no mistake, firing the rebound into the net.

The Rebels will regret not doubling their lead early on in the second-half when Simon Dunn headed a loose ball towards goal but Brett Longden was on hand to head it off the line.

Chesham drew level in the 52nd minute as the evergreen Barry Hayles nipped in between Mark Nisbet and Dan Hicks to head home a Ryan Blake cross.

Two minutes after that, they completed a quickfire double and took the lead with Pearce finishing from close range after a Brad Wadkins shot was not dealt with.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Slough captain Sean Fraser is presented with a certificate by chairman Steve Easterbrook for making his 200th club appearance on Monday.

The Rebels thought they had equalised when Hicks connected with a Warren Harris cross, but he headed the ball wide.

Baker said: “I’m disappointed that we have not come away with anything. I thought in the first-half we were in control really without playing brilliant.

“We worked hard off the ball and won it back a lot. We probably made a few basic errors in terms of passing but we were pretty comfortable in the first-half and deserved the lead.

“In the second-half they’ve scored two goals in 90 seconds and it’s really disappointing because I don’t think they created an awful lot more throughout the game.

“Mark Scott had not had to make a save. If he did I can’t really remember it.”

He continued: “We huffed and puffed but we didn’t show enough quality. There were too many who were not quite at the races so I’m disappointed.

“Football is a funny old game and you just never know, and unfortunately I think the first goal is cheap. We started slow and conceded two goals and it changed the whole dynamic of the game.

“Chesham just got deeper and deeper, which you would expect with their two centre halves, big and strong but not an awful lot of pace between them.

“We just needed to probe a little bit more and we didn’t quite do that.”

Slough now face a tough run of four away matches in a row, starting with a trip to St Ives Town this Saturday (3pm) and then Cinderford Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Biggleswade Town host the Rebels on Saturday, January 14 before Slough turn their attentions to the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup semi-finals and the short journey to Maidenhead United three days later.

FORMER Slough Town first team player and manager Steve Brown passed away on New Year’s Day after a battle with cancer.