SLOUGH Town joint-manager Jon Underwood is relieved to see the Rebels return to winning form in the National League South this season, writes Rob Stevens.

The Rebels have dropped out of contention for a spot in the play-offs after a run of seven league matches without a win dating back to mid-January.

A single goal from Lee Togwell however was enough to break the baron spell and secure all three points in a 1-0 victory over Hemel Hempstead Town at Arbour Park.

Underwood told the Observer: “We’re relieved. We needed to get a win on the board because it’s been too long for our liking since we beat Chelmsford City at home.

“We played well at times and probably deserved to win one or two of those seven games but results are what we’re after and it’s a relief.

“We weren’t at our best in the in the first half and that was probably down to the run we’ve been on.

“Hemel hadn’t won in six matches themselves so it looked like we were both desperate for a win but had no confidence.

“We stepped it up in the second half and took the game to them. We deservedly got the goal, although it took a little while to come, and the win.”

The home side were unfortunate not to take the lead in the first half when Matthew Lench chipped the ball over Hemel keeper Laurie Walker but his effort was cleared off the line.

Slough went close again early on in the second period when Togwell worked the ball onto his left foot but the shot was met with a save onto the post from Walker.

The only goal in the game came after 71 minutes as Togwell burst through the Hemel defence and calmly finished low past the keeper.

It is the midfielder’s third goal this season and first since the win at Sholing in the FA Cup back in September.

The win means Slough remain in 12th position in the league table ahead of a trip to play-off chasing Concord Rangers this Saturday (3pm).

Underwood continued: “We’re in a relatively safe position in the middle of the table. We’ve drifted away from the play-offs after the run we had been on and that isn’t a relative ambition for us now.

“Sometimes you’ve to adjust your targets throughout the season and for us now it’s about can we finish in the top-half.

“We’ve had a great FA Cup run and the Berks & Bucks Cup has taken on a greater importance now.

“If we can finish in the top-half an win the county cup it will look like a good season.”

The Rebels gave a debut to Daniel Roberts, signed on dual registration from Windsor, and the young striker was named the supporters’ man-of-the-match.

Underwood commented: “You’ve got to remember where Dan has come from and that it’s his first proper season in senior football.

“It was a big ask of him to jump up three levels but we felt it was the right game to play him in.

“We felt that his pace and movement would trouble Hemel and it did, plus he was unfortunate not to get a goal a couple of times.

“There are things for him to work on but, for a debut at this level, there were a lot of positives.”