SLOUGH Town have secured their spot in the Southern Premier Division play-offs this season after a 1-1 draw at Chesham United on Easter Monday.

The Rebels are guaranteed a top-five finish with one game still to play in the regular season having won a point at rivals Chesham with sixth-placed Banbury United losing 1-0 at Leamington.

Slough did not make the best of starts as Dave Pearce gave Chesham the lead inside 60 seconds, a wonder volley that sailed over keeper Shaun Rowley.

However, the visitors provided a quick and vital response when Liam Enver-Marum powered a header from a Gavin James cross beyond Richard Haymond in the 10th minute.

Slough then saw appeals for a penalty waved away despite Brett Longden appearing to handle the ball inside the box.

A second penalty appeal was turned down midway through the first-half when Mark Nisbet looked to have been man-handled inside the penalty area.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Slough Town supporters celebrate at the final whistle knowing their team have reached the play-offs.

The Rebels came close to securing all three points on 74 minutes when Guy Hollis hit the crossbar from a James Dobson free-kick.

Slough missed the opportunity to secure their spot in the play-offs after a 2-0 defeat against Cirencester Town on Good Friday.

It was a first defeat in seven matches at Arbour Park for The Rebels, but the performance left joint-managers Jon Underwood and Neil Baker furious.

Cirencester, second from bottom and fighting relegation, secured the win with two goals by Danny Gudger in the second half.

Slough saw appeals for a first-half penalty turned down despite Alan Griffin appearing to handle the ball inside the box.

Cirencester broke the deadlock on 48 minutes as Gudger finished a cross from Rowley after The Rebels failed to deal with a long ball.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Neil Baker checks his phone for news from the match between Leamington and Banbury.

Gudger doubled the lead five minutes later when he finished off the post after a mistake from Nathan Smart.

Underwood told the Observer: "We've not had a great couple of weeks. That's partly down to our own mistakes and partly down to Banbury’s form and sticking in their, so there was a sense of relief on Monday.

"The result on Friday set us back and gave us a real shock because no-one saw it coming.

"We had won six in a row at home and, though we were not complacent, no-one expected the defeat to come against Cirencester.

"Fifty seconds in on Monday and Chesham score with a goal of the season out of nothing and you start to wonder if it's not going to go your way.

"So credit to the players because we started to panic on the sidelines, but they responded really well.

"We showed great character on Monday against our local rivals, who were keen to make it difficult for us, but we came through and got what we needed."

Slough welcome Redditch United to Arbour Park this Saturday (3pm).