SLOUGH Town have progressed into the FA Trophy second qualifying round this season after a 4-1 win away at Kidlington on Saturday.

The Rebels made the journey to Yarnton Road with only one recognised striker due to injuries but it did not matter as a hat-trick from midfielder Matt Lench helped secure the victory.

Lench struck twice to give the visitors a clear lead over their Southern Division One Central hosts at the half-time interval.

Anaclet Odhiambo pulled one back for Kidlington after the break but man-of-the-match Lench struck again to restore the two goal-lead and complete his hat-trick with nine minutes remaining.

Striker Manny Williams added a fourth goal, his eighth of the season, for Slough in the first minute of time added on.

Jon Underwood took charge of The Rebels for the tie while fellow joint-manager Neil Baker went to watch FA Cup opponents Gainsborough Trinity and told Rebels Radio after the game: “I’m just really pleased to get through. I thought it was a difficult game.

“We started very well and got ourselves in front early, but then for the next 10 minutes Kidlington battered us and were very unlucky not to score.

“Jack Turner made one fantastic save and they hit the bar. I don’t know whether we just started too well and then got a little relaxed, but they were a threat.

“Kidlington were a threat all game and have got some good players with experience and I was impressed with them.

“We rode that and the first-half was fairly even after that, and it was great to nick a goal right on half-time.

“I felt we deserved to be in front over the course of the half but probably only by one and not two goals.

“In the second-half we managed the game really well, but Kidlington getting a goal made things difficult and gave them that belief again.

“I thought the way we finished the game in the last 15 minutes was really good. We finished really strong and created quite a few chances, and in the end it looks comfortable at 4-1 but it wasn’t.

“But, in these games all that matters is getting through to the next round and with no injuries and we’ve managed that.

“We didn’t want a replay and have now got a clean week leading up to the FA Cup this Saturday, so it was pretty much the perfect day really.”

Looking ahead to the FA Cup first round proper tie away at National League North club Gainsborough Trinity this Saturday (3pm), Underwood said: “It’s going to be a cracking game.

“It’s a good old-fashioned non-league ground up there and their ticket sales are going well, and we want as many of our supporters to get there as we can.

“It’s great if you have a good away following, as we have had over many years. We travel well away and in the big games people make that extra effort so hopefully they will and we can get some noise behind the goal. It will be a good atmosphere up there.

“We’re going to prepare really well this week, go up on Friday night and do everything right to give ourselves the best chance of winning that game.

“It’s going to be a really tough game but a proper old-fashioned cup tie and let’s hope that at the end of the day we are at the very least still in the draw.”

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