SLOUGH Town joint-manager Jon Underwood has explained that hard work was the magic behind an incredible September which resulted in a clean sweep of National League awards, writes Rob Stevens.

The Rebels began the month in 15th position in the National League South table after just two wins from eight matches in August.

Slough however won all four league games in September, including coming from two goals behind to win at Dartford, to climb into the play-off spots.

The Rebels were in fact unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions before the defeat against Chippenham Town in an FA Cup third qualifying round replay at Arbour Park on Tuesday.

Underwood and fellow manager Neil Baker scooped the Manager of the Month award while midfielder Warren Harris won the Player of the Month prize for the division. He scored in the wins against Hemel Hempstead Town and Eastbourne Borough.

Underwood told the Observer: “The key to the success was hard work as always. The players work their socks off with a great attitude.

“We don’t know when we’re beaten and have shown a lot of character to bounce back from the difficult start we had to the season.

“Neil and I pick the team and decide on how we play but it’s the players on the pitch that have got us to where we are. We’re lucky to have them and are pleased with the group that we’ve got.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Slough Town midfielder Warren Harris is the National League South Player of the Month for September.

“What happened in the FA Cup doesn’t change that. We’ve now got to push on and try to have a positive rest of October.”

He added: “There’s always things you could’ve done differently. We got caught a few times on the ball making some poor choices in the middle of the park against a team that breaks well on you.

“We try to pass the ball, that’s they way we want to play, but when you make the pitch big and make mistakes, it makes you susceptible to a counter-attack. Chippenham did that well to us and were also solid defensively.

“There were such fine margins again on Tuesday and we could’ve left with a 3-2 win but that’s cup football, one teams goes through and the other has to bow out. Unfortunately it didn’t go our way.”

Slough return to league action with a visit to Arbour Park from Billericay Town this Saturday (3pm).

General admission into the stadium is only £5 for adults with free entry for accompanying children. The club is also offering free entry to anyone with a Premier League or Football League season ticket.

Underwood commented: “Hopefully there will be a big crowd at Arbour Park and it’ll be a great game for us. Billericay are a good side and going well as well.

“We’ve just got ourselves above them into the play-off positions and we want to hang onto that spot. It’s a big game and if Billericay beat us then they’ll go above us.

“We’ve got to bounce back and put the FA Cup defeat behind us, and remember how well we have been doing. One defeat should not change anything.”