Slough Town 1, Merthyr Town 0

Merthyr Town’s 11-match unbeaten run ended at Slough Town, but even the opposing manager said they didn’t deserve to lose.

The Martyrs had a big shout for a penalty when striker Kayne McLaggon was bundled over inside the area and Slough team boss Neil Baker said: “That should have been a penalty, but it wasn’t given.”

In an even, fiercely contested match both teams gave everything they had and it could have gone either way.

Slough’s win, though, means only one point separates the four teams occupying the play-off places.

Town are now second on goal difference from Leamington and Hitchin. All three rivals are on 68 points, one more than Slough.

Chippenham Town are clear leaders.

The key for manager Gavin Williams and his Martyrs now is to earn back-to-back home wins at Penydarren Park, against Hitchin on Tuesday and Frome Town on Saturday.

“This was a great three points for us,” said Baker. “We defended brilliantly against a quality Merthyr team. There was not a lot to choose between the teams, but thankfully we came out on top.

“Merthyr started the second half a little better than us with a fair bit of possession and balls into the box, but they did not really opened up too much with one exception.

“When McLaggon swivelled and his shot went just wide that was a well worked opportunity.”

Slough’s winner came after 60 minutes when the ball was pulled back for Flood to fie home.

The Martyrs sent on new signing loan Jack Compton and Jarrad Wright in a bid to take control. They replaced Kyle Copp and Ryan Prosser.

But this was a day when Merthyr created a few chances – Ian Traylor fired just over in the second half – but could not score the goal they needed.

Their home match against Hitchin, one of their big promotion rivals, will kick-off at 7.45pm on Tuesday.

Merthyr Town: O Davies, S Barrow, C McDonald, A Evans, S Tancock, A Davies, K Copp, K Refell, K McLagon, R Prosser, I Traylor. Subs: J Wright, K Patten, E Richards, J Compton, C Jenkins.