The Mariners kick off this season’s Emirates FA Cup journey this weekend with a Sunday trip to Berkshire to take on Slough Town in our First Round tie.
After defeat last weekend saw Paul Hurst and Chris Doig relieved of their duties in charge of Town, Ben Davies and Shaun Pearson have taken interim charge as the Club conduct a recruitment process. This weekend’s match will be their first at the helm with a trip south to take on National League South opposition.
Team News
Pearson stepped up to speak to the media ahead of the match and confirmed that there are two players who the coaching and medical staff will be monitoring on Saturday regarding their availability to play against Slough with Charles Vernam and Callum Ainley the only two who are definitely absent.
He also confirmed that both of our loanees, Harvey Cartwright and Jamie Andrews, are eligible to play in Sunday’s match as per their loan agreements.
Slough Town
Slough currently find themselves in 21st place in the sixth tier, three points adrift of Eastbourne Borough who sit just above the relegation zone.
After one of the best season in the Club’s history, 2017-18 saw Slough reach the National League South through the Play-Offs. In their first season back in the second tier of non-league football, the Rebels earned an eleventh-placed finish before finding themselves in the Play-Off spaces the following year when Covid-19 saw the season curtailed.
Another shortened season followed in 2020/21 with Slough sitting in 20th when the campaign came to an end. With a more normal season following, the Berkshire club found themselves in mid-table before finishing 18th last term.
Manager Scott Davies has been at the helm since November 2022 and combines his managerial duties with his playing role.
Their top scorer this season is George Alexander who, after signing on loan from Bromley, has scored five goals in all competitions.
Form
Since picking up back-to-back wins in early September, Slough haven’t picked up a league win in five matches with four draws coming along with a 3-2 defeat to St Albans City.
This will be Slough’s sixth game in the FA Cup this season after beating Hayes & Yeading United, Salisbury and Ebbsfleet United to reach the First Round, requiring replays to get past the first and third of those.
Town come into this match with Davies and Pearson set to take charge for the first time as the Mariners look to improve on a run of form that has seen just three wins in twenty matches this season. Last weekend’s defeat at Doncaster came a few days after an unfortunate loss at home against Colchester United.
This will be our first FA Cup game since our Quarter-Final against Brighton & Hove Albion last term.
Coverage
Due to broadcast regulations, tonight’s match isn’t available to be broadcast live on Mariners TV. Subscribers will, though, be able to listen to the radio coverage from BBC Radio Humberside. Not a subscriber? Sign up HERE for just £4.50 a month to enjoy exclusive content and match coverage.
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