JON UNDERWOOD believes that Slough Town showed great character to beat Dulwich Hamlet 3-2 in the FA Cup second qualifying round on Saturday.

Slough twice recovered from falling a goal behind to beat 10-man Dulwich at Arbour Park with the reward a home tie against Poole Town in the third qualifying round on September 30.

Dulwich were reduced to 10-men on the stroke of half-time as Sanchez Ming caught Matt Lench with a high boot and was shown a straight red card by referee Stephen Bates.

That did not stop the visitors from taking the lead when Mark Weatherstone found the back of the net a minute into the second half.

Brad Wadkins levelled the scores at 1-1 on 53 minutes, his fourth goal in the last two matches, before Nyren Clunis put Dulwich back in front with 15 minutes still to play.

However, Slough dug deep and Lee Togwell equalised in the 78th minute before Manny Williams scored the winner six minutes from time to take The Rebels into the next round - his fourth goal in as many matches.

Slough joint-manager Underwood told the Observer: “We’re delighted to go through and it has been a good week for us.

“We knew a bit about Dulwich, they’re one of the best sides at our level, so it would be a tough game. We were expecting a competitive match and it was.

“We started very well and were unfortunate not to go in front before Dulwich got back into it. It was nip and tuck throughout the first half.

“We were helped with the sending off right on half-time which gave us the man advantage.

“Dulwich came out and scored when we were a little slow out the blocks after half-time, but we showed great character to come back twice and then to go on to win the game.

“We created a lot of chances and looked very dangerous with the pressure we were able to put on and the balls into the box. If you look at the chances created and overall possession we shaded it.

“At one point it didn’t look like we would go through, and even a reply would have been tough at their place, so it was vital we got the winner.”

Slough will now play National South club Poole in the third qualifying round and Underwood is delighted to have been drawn at home.

He explained: “Poole are another team that we know well as they got promoted from our league a few years ago.

“They had a good season last year but have struggled a little so far. We’re flying and full of confidence so there will be very little between the two sides.

“We’re very pleased to be at home. Arbour Park is somewhere we feel very comfortable, backed with good support.

"The FA Cup games are very different to league matches and for us it's just about getting into the next round.

"We pride ourselves defensively in the league but the FA Cup is a little different, only one thing counts and that's to go through.

"We are two wins away from potentially playing a club from the Football League and that's the prize we're all going for."

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