NEIL Baker is desperate for the local public to get behind Slough Town ahead of their much-anticipated clash with Hereford at Arbour Park this Saturday (3pm).

Both teams reached the second round proper of the FA Cup this season and are now trying to reignite their push for promotion from the Southern Premier Division.

Slough conceded a goal five minutes into time added on in their 1-1 draw at Chesham United on Monday and Baker is bitterly disappointed to have dropped two points.

He knows The Rebels will need to go on an unbelievable run to win the league and admits that a defeat to Hereford could cost them any chance of the title.

The Slough joint-manager told the Observer: “Hereford are bigger than Rochdale in terms of the stature of the club so it’s a huge game really.

“Hereford are the biggest side in our league and have sold out their allocation of 600 tickets which is really pleasing.

“They would probably have sold out 1,000 so I think there will be a very good crowd on Saturday, around 1,500 or close to our capacity.

“Hereford are having a brilliant season, they’ve had a great FA Cup run and done even better than us in the FA Trophy, so I’m desperate for the local public to get behind our lads.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Ben Harris (centre) is mobbed by his new Slough Town teammates after scoring on debut on Monday.

“It will not be an easy game but we’ve got to get something. If we win then we will be back on level terms with Hereford in theory.

“If we lose I would probably say that any chance we have of winning the league is gone. I will go as far as saying that.

“We are a very good side but to win the league we will need to go on an unbelievable run of form. The title might be a bit too far for us now so we definitely have to grab a play-off position.

“Other sides around us have improved as well so we’re under no illusions that nothing is given or easy.”

Slough extended their unbeaten run in the league to three matches after a 1-1 draw away at rivals Chesham on Monday.

A goal on debut from new signing Ben Harris gave The Rebels a lead on 76 minutes but Ravi Shamshi rescued a point for Chesham in the fifth minute of injury time at The Meadow.

Baker reacted: “Obviously it’s disappointing to drop two points but football is all about fine margins.

“I thought we did enough, probably what we needed to win. We were pretty dominate in terms of possession and solid, we didn’t give an awful lot of chances away.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Ben Harris (left) heads in to five Slough Town the lead in the 1-1 draw at Chesham United.

“When you’re a goal ahead after 95 minutes you hope to hold on but Chesham got in after a slight mistake. There was a slight delay from Jack Turner, he stopped and then come again. He was bitterly disappointed with that but it was one of those things.

“It feels like a defeat and three points away from home would have been brilliant but it’s not to be.”

Commenting on his new signing Harris, the Slough joint-boss said: "I'm delighted for Ben. He's someone we've been in contact with for three or four years, since his time at Hampton & Richmond. He's a good player that works hard and certainly knows where the goal is.

"His goal on Saturday showed some real determination, to throw his head in and not worry about it when the keeper was coming out.

"He puts in a lot of hard work and is hard to play against as a centre back. He wins a lot of fouls and knows how to use his body.

"I felt we had gone off the boil a little bit up top so Ben will help to freshen it up."

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