SLOUGH Town joint-manager Neil Baker is delighted that the Rebels secured an important three points after a 2-0 win against Oxford City on Saturday.

The Rebels had the opportunity to break the deadlock when on-loan striker Matthew Stevens was brought down inside the box by Oxford keeper, Craig King.

James Dobson stepped up to hit the resulting spot-kick to the right of King and into the net on 16 minutes.

The visitors to Arbour Park were reduced to 10 men seconds before the break as captain Joe Castler was shown a straight red card for bringing down Stevens, who was through on goal.

Slough doubled their advantage on the hour mark when a Dobson corner was diverted into the net by an Oxford defender for an own goal.

Oxford were unfortunate not to pull a goal back as Lee Togwell did superbly well to clear the ball off his own line in the 68th minute.

The Rebels thought they had a third goal when substitute Ben Harris scored from a cross at the back post, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Baker told the Observer: “It was an important three points and we’ve kept a clean sheet again, which is great for our defensive record. We’ve only conceded seven goals so far in nine games, which is brilliant.

“I didn’t think we were brilliant in the first-half. I thought we were a little bit slow to react and dwelt on the ball a few times.

“Our front two looked really lively together and that caused them some problems.

“We won the penalty but I think it might have been a bit harsh as the keeper might have got to it.

“Their lad can’t complain for the red card. Matthew done brilliantly to get into the position to make their lad make the challenge.

“It was an okay first-half and the instruction for the second-half was to just kill the game. We didn’t have to win 5-0 or 6-0, we just needed to make sure that we got the three points and kept a clean sheet.

“We’ve done that and it should have been more comfortable at the end. We had some good chances and Matthew missed a sitter by his standards, plus we had one ruled out.

“I’m absolutely delighted because it’s another three points.”

He continued: “I thought Oxford were a good side. They passed the ball well and got it into the feet of their front men.

“They had good movement with runners coming off the back, so it wasn’t going to be easy.

“For myself personally, I always hated playing against 10-men, especially at 1-0.

“I feel sometimes players drop 10-15 per-cent because they think the match maybe won and the opposition raise their game, so it evens itself out.

“We kept the ball well in the second-half and other than a couple of scares we were pretty comfortable.”

Baker added: “Matthew should have scored, he doesn’t need me to tell him that.

“I thought he was bright all afternoon but especially in the first-half. He stretched them because he was running in behind and causing lots of problems.

“He had only played the one game in three or four weeks so it might take him a little while to really fire on all cylinders, but we were absolutely delighted with him.

“We were urging him to score when he went through at the end and he probably chose the wrong option, but we’re really happy with him.”

The win means Slough have moved up four places to 10th position in the National League South table.

The Rebels welcome Bournemouth Under-23s to Arbour Park for a friendly match this Tuesday (7.45pm), before a return to league action and a trip to Eastbourne Borough on Saturday (3pm).