SLOUGH Town have reached the Southern Premier Division play-off final this season after a 3-1 win against Kettering Town on Wednesday.

The Rebels had not beaten Kettering in the regular season after losing 2-1 at Arbour Park on the opening day back in August, before a 0-0 draw at Latimer Park in October.

However, Slough were the more in-form team heading into the play-offs after seven wins and a draw from their last eight matches, and they took the lead inside 13 minutes.

Striker Perry Coles capitalised on a poor attempted defensive header back to Paul White to nip in front of the Poppies keeper and score from just inside the box - his 12th goal of the season and ninth in 10 matches.

Kettering thought they had levelled the scores on 28 minutes when the ball was turned in from a Lindon Meikle cross, but from an offside position.

The visitors did equalise nine minutes before the break as Aaron O’Connor find time and space to side-foot the ball past keeper Jack Turner, however Kettering striker Matthew Stevens appeared to be offside in the build up to the goal.

Slough were gifted the chance to restore their lead seven minutes after the restart when Michael Richens fouled James Dobson inside the box, earning himself a yellow card.

Dobson dusted himself down and converted the spot-kick, sending White the wrong way from 12-yards.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: (l-r) Rebels stars Warren Harris, Chris Flood, James Dobson and Perry Coles celebrate one of the two penalties scored by Dobson in the play-off semi-finals.

A second individual error cost The Poppies on 71 minutes as White spilt a cross and then brought down George Wells inside the box.

The keeper was booked and Dobson scored his second spot-kick, the wingers 26th goal of the season and 51st goal for the club in 156 appearances.

The Rebels joint-manager Neil Baker told the Observer: “I’m absolutely delighted.

“Kettering are a tough side and you could see why they’ve scored 122 league goals. They were a real threat in the last 20 minutes of the first-half. They were right on top and we were probably lucky to go into half-time level.

“In the second-half, we managed the game brilliantly and the lads put in tremendous workrate and a tremendous performance, so I’m absolutely delighted.

“We looked relatively solid for the first 20-25 minutes and they didn’t cause us too many problems, but then maybe we dropped a little deep and our line probably wasn’t great.

“Kettering came into the game with a couple of balls over the top that we should have dealt with but we didn’t and we caused a few of our own problems. They came into the game and we were probably a little bit fortunate.

“We said at half-time we have to relax because we’re still in the game at 1-1 and the next goal is massive, and if you get it you have got to try and see the game out. Going and getting the third goal was tremendous as well.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Slough striker Perry Coles celebrates his goal - his 12th of the season and ninth in 10 games.

“Their keeper had a real nightmare for the third goal.

“There’s a debate as to whether their goal was offside as well. A lot of our lads thought Matthew Stevens was offside. He just got a touch onto the ball and played it into the path of Aaron O’Connor, so maybe they got a little bit lucky as did we.

“At the end of the day the referee has made his decisions and we’ve taken our chances.

“In the past we’ve missed a few penalties so it’s nice and fair play to James Dobson. He has stepped up and showed balls of steel really.”

Baker continued: “Kettering were very good for 20 minutes in the first-half and they’re always a threat with balls up to Rene Howe for flick-ons and with pace in behind.

“Kettering were always going to cause us a few problems but in the second-half we dealt with it really well and, when they lost O’Connor as well, who is an absolute livewire, it was a real blow for them.

“Maybe we got Kettering on a good day because they lost their skipper on Saturday, which would have been a big blow for them, but we can’t worry about that and just worry about ourselves.”

The win means Slough have gone one better than last season where they lost 1-0 at Leamington in the semi-finals.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Rebels full-back George Wells is fouled by Kettering keeper Paul White for the second penalty.

Asked what it meant to him and fellow joint-manager Jon Underwood, Baker said: “You don’t want to go out in a semi-finals. It is something that’s happened to us three times now and it’s not easy.

“You watch with envy as the other sides get prepared for a massive game in the final and you just wish you where a part of it.

“Whatever happens on Monday the lads have been absolutely incredible this year.

“To finish on 99 points and score the amount of goals we have, plus the FA Cup second round, and to win on Wednesday in front of a fantastic crowd, it’s been a pretty special season.”

Slough will travel to Kings Lynn Town in the play-off final this Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).

The Rebels lost 1-0 at Kings Lynn in March before a 2-2 draw with the league runners-up in April.

Follow the Southern Premier Division play-off final between Kings Lynn Town and Slough Town on Twitter via @Robs_Sport from 2pm on Bank Holiday Monday.