SLOUGH Town suffered only their second home league defeat of the season after a 1-0 loss to Oxford City on Saturday, writes Rob Stevens.
The Rebels were beaten at the hands of Dorking Wanderers on the opening day of the campaign but have since managed an impressive record at Arbour Park with nine wins and four draws.
An unfortunate Ryan Bird own goal in the first half was enough to bring an end to their five-match unbeaten run in the National League South although Slough remain in second position.
Slough named the same team that won at Hampton & Richmond four days earlier which meant Matthew Lench made his 100th appearance for the club. The midfielder becomes the 11th player in the current squad to do so.
The Rebels came close to scoring early on when Joe Oastler of Oxford flicked on a Max Worsfold cross, but the ball avoided the far post.
Oxford bagged the only goal in the game completely against the run of play and three minutes before the half-time whistle. Reece Fleet crossed into the box and the ball hit Bird in the head. He knew little about it and could do nothing as keeper Jack Turner was beaten.
The visitors went close to doubling the advantage on the hour mark as Zach McEachran hit a low shot, but Turner was able to scramble across goal and save brilliantly with an out-stretched leg.
PHOTO: The Rebels star Ryan Bird scored an unfortunate own goal in the defeat to Oxford.
Slough had chances to equalise late in the game when Sam Togwell saw a header blocked and the follow-up effort from Josh Jackman went narrowly over the crossbar. Lench also dragged a shot wide in time added on.
Oxford could have added a second with seconds left on the clock as Turner lost possession well outside of his box but the long-range shot from substitute Kyran Lofthouse flew wide of the post with the net gapping.
Slough remain in second position in the table and seven points behind Wealdstone despite the defeat although the Rebels have now played one game more than the leaders.
The Rebels make the trip to Welling United this Saturday (3pm) looking to complete the league double after a 1-0 win at Arbour Park in the reverse fixture back in October.
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