NEIL Baker believes that Slough Town were unspectacular but more professional in the 2-0 win against Merthyr Town at Arbour Park on Tuesday evening.

The Rebels fell two goals behind in the original FA Trophy second qualifying round tie at Merthyr on Saturday but fought back to draw 2-2 with goals from Charlie Moone and James Dobson.

The replay was more straight forward for Slough as first-half goals by Moone and Simon Dunn ensured victory and secured a home tie in the next round against Wingate & Finchley on Saturday, November 26.

“I’m delighted. Obviously the main thing was to get through to the next round and it gives us a home draw, which is great,” Slough’s joint-manager told the Observer.

“I thought Merthyr started really well in the first 10 minutes. They created a couple of chances and Mark Scott made a really good save early on. They caused us a few problems initially but then we started to get ourselves in the game.

“Obviously the first goal was a really good one. A good ball in from Lewis Putman and a great finish from Charlie as well. That’s why we brought him to the club because it’s what he does.

“To get the second just before half time really gave us that impetus. It was a great team goal and a great finish from Simon.

“We went in a half-time and knew we just had to keep it nice and tight. We didn’t have to go chasing the game and I thought we managed it really well.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Charlie Moone, left, celebrates his goal with Elijah Adebayo, right, as Slough Town beat Merthyr Town in an FA Trophy replay. 

“We didn’t really look like conceding in the second-half. Merthyr had one or two balls in the box but other than that they didn’t cause us too many problems.”

Baker continued: “We had a little spell where we had a couple of chances, two or three, but I was really happy with how we defended, and we got back to a clean sheet again.

“Obviously getting Mark Nisbet back into the side helps that, it gives us that little bit of experience. He and Guy Hollis have struck up a really good partnership between them, so I’m delighted.”

Drawing a comparison to the Rebels’ performance in Wales on Saturday, Baker said: “It was very different. I thought we played some really good stuff in the second half and fully deserved to get back into the game, if not win it.

“On Tuesday, we ground it out a little bit. We were not overly spectacular but we put little passages of play together which was really good, and we did the right things.

“I said in the changing room you’re not going to win every game 4-0, 5-0 or 7-4 here, but sometimes you just have to be professional and solid, and that’s exactly what we did on Tuesday.”

Baker also hailed the home support in midweek as “tremendous” with 429 football fans coming through the turnstiles at Arbour Park on a wet and cold night.

He said: We had over 400 people here which is top draw to be honest. I wasn’t expecting that if I’m brutally honest.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Slough Town midfielders Lewis Putman, left, and James Dobson, right, celebrate the win at Arbour Park on Tuesday.

“I thought there might be 300 here with the England game, the earlier kick-off and two or three days notice, but it goes to show there is an appetite for football in Slough.

“We just have to keep on winning games because that’s what brings people in.”

Slough return to action in the Southern Premier Division when Kings Langley are the visitors to Arbour Park this Saturday (3pm), followed by a trip to Stratford Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).

The Rebels are in League Cup action 24 hours later with visit to Northwood (7.45pm).