Fontenelle: Slough Town still in control of their destiny despite Chippenham setback

Tony Fontenelle

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Slough Town’s management team would have snapped your hands off for the points they’ve picked up over the Christmas and new year period.

Languishing in the National League South relegation zone and having bowed of the FA Cup in painful circumstances to National League North Macclesfield in early December – with the carrot of a potential tie against Premier League opponents tantalisingly within reach – the Rebels prospects were looking gloomy.

Fast-forward four weeks and they’ve collected 10 points from their last six matches, results that have lifted them out of the bottom four.

They deserved more from a goalless draw at Dagenham & Redbridge, showed great resilience to beat Maidenhead United 3-1 away from home with only 10 men for more than 45 minutes. Those results were then backed up by much needed and deserved home wins over Chesham United (3-0) and Eastbourne Borough (2-1).

So, the team travelled to bottom of the table Chippenham Town on Tuesday evening, expecting much more than a 2-1 defeat. On the balance of play, they probably deserved more too, but the visitors paid the price for a sluggish start with Tom Owen-Evans and Billy Phillips putting the visitors two goals to the good at the interval. Ruben Shakpoke grabbed a goal back in the 53rd minute but more good opportunities were spurned.

Assistant manager Tony Fontenelle said afterwards, ‘it just wasn’t Slough’s night’.

“The disappointing thing from our end is that over the course of the past month if you’d have said, this is the points total you’d have; we’d have snapped your hand off for it,” he said.

“We’ve just picked up six massive points at home, and you come to Chippenham and, how can I put it, it’s not like we were expecting to come away with all three points, but we were hoping to pick up at least one.

“Our preparation was the same. We warned the lads about being complacent and we felt that they were ready to go. But we just started so lethargic. It’s always difficult when you start a game slowly to then get up to second third and fourth gear.

“Even though we weren’t playing that well, we created some great goal scoring moments and opportunities. How we haven’t scored one or two of those chances is beyond belief.

“After falling behind, we were the team in the ascendancy. We missed a chance in front of goal when in the six-yard box, we’ve had shots and headers clear the bar. The ball has pinballed around the area, and it’s not fallen for us.

“Then just before half-time, they break away and get a second goal. It just gives you a mountain to climb. We changed the formation and gave them some choice words, and they came out refocused and energised and we got that goal. I thought it would be a matter of time before we scored again but their keeper has pulled off some great saves, and again we’ve missed some great opportunities.

“Unfortunately, it just wasn’t our night, and I think it’s one of those where we just must lick our wounds and move on from it. Chippenham feel they’ve been unfortunate in recent matches, but even they’ll admit they were a little bit fortuitous to get all three points against us. We won’t get too hung up on it though. We didn’t get too far ahead of ourselves when we were on a good run and we won’t get too down now. We’ll learn from the errors that were made but it’s not panic stations by any stretch of the imagination.

“Our destiny is still in our own hands, and we have a target that we’ve set that we feel is more than achievable.”

Slough next take on in-form Hemel Hempstead Town at Vauxhall Road on Saturday. Recent matches between the two sides have gone the way of the Tudors, often by the odd goal, but Fontenelle believes they’re capable of coming away with a positive result.

“If we can get a result on Saturday, last night is forgotten,” he said.

“Saturday will be tough, we know the management team and most of their squad. You’ve got to give credit to Lee Allinson for the squad that he’s put together. It will be a very difficult game for us.

“Hemel has been a bit of a bogey side for us in recent seasons. They did the double over us last season and beat us early in this season. But we must find a way of stopping the that rot they have over us. They’re usually tight, competitive games, and it’s going to be a good, tactical battle. We both personally know Lee, and I’ve played against Lee and he’s a real good guy. I know him very well within my inner football circle. It will be an interesting battle of wits.”