SLOUGH Town failed to score in a match in the National League South for the first time since August after a 0-0 draw with Tonbridge Angels at Arbour Park on Saturday, writes Rob Stevens.

The Rebels last failed to hit the target in the defeat at Berkshire rivals Hungerford Town some 15 matches ago, but it is also their third clean sheet in four games in all competitions.

And joint-manager is Jon Underwood is happy with the point having lost defenders Mark Nisbet and George Wells to injury in the first half.

Underwood told the Observer: “It ended up being a very difficult game for us with some of the challenges that we had to face during it.

“Mark Nisbet got a couple of knocks early on and ended up having to come off. George Wells had a problem with his neck at half-time and couldn’t continue either, so we ended up losing two of our back four.

“We had other players limping around at the end. Sean Frasers took a whack to the head and was dazed but carried on.

“It was a game that we could’ve easily won or lost, it really could’ve gone either way. There were some scary moments at both ends but we can’t win every game.

“We’re actually happy with what we got from our boys in terms of their effort and desire.

“Our first spell was in the first half and 15 minutes from the start. We were much the better team for about a half-hour and that’s when we needed to score really, but we couldn’t.

“The second half was just end to end with chances at either end. Not loads of clear-cut chances but balls into the box and scary moments either way.

“Tonbridge are a dangerous side with some good players, and we didn’t think it was going to be an easy game, and it proved even tougher with some of the challenges that we had to overcome.”

He continued: “The draw is probably a fair result. It was very open and they do have players that can hurt you. We didn’t create lots of clear-cut chances and we had some very scary moments defensively.

“We were patched up defensively as the game went on so to keep a clean sheet has got to be a positive.

“Where we are in the league, of course if you draw at home you feel it’s two points dropped but you can’t win every game. We’ve won the last five games here at Arbour Park and you can’t win them all, so it is what it is.

“A lot of people won’t see it that way but we have to take a realistic view. You never get given any points in this league and we had to earn that one today.

“We’re happy. Before the game started, of course we were targeting three points, we always do here no matter who we’re playing, but the way the game involved we’re happy with 0-0 and a point.”

Slough came closest to scoring in the first half when Max Worsfold crossed the ball into the box from the left, but in-form Warren Harris shot over the crossbar from close range.

The Rebels twice came close after the break as Matthew Lench drove an effort just over the crossbar before substitute Francis Amartey wriggled free inside the box but shot wide of the post.

Tonbridge almost opened the scoring when Ben Greenhaigh saw his goalbound effort blocked by Sean Fraser, before Angels keeper Jonathan Henly made a fine save at his near post to deny Slough substitute Lee Togwell from a corner.

The point means Slough remain in second position in the league table but now six points behind leaders Wealdstone ahead of a visit to Arbour Park from Braintree Town this Saturday.