Last-gasp Fraser goal saves Slough a point

Slough Town

Slough Town

2
Martin (19), Fraser (90+5)
Burnham

Burnham

2
Osubu (10), Webb (39)
League Attendance: 257 Adam Martin
Sean Fraser scored his first goal for the club with almost the final touch of the game as ten-man Slough rescued a point against bottom side Burnham.

After the high of beating league leaders Weymouth on Saturday, Slough failed to replicate this against the bottom side, and Jon Underwood described the performance as ‘awful’ after the game, as well as praising the opposition - for as sluggish and sloppy as the home side were, Burnham impressed with their work rate, passing and determination, and were seconds away from taking all three points until Fraser became the unlikely goal scoring hero.

Burnham started well with Slough looking hesitant from a corner in the tenth minute - Luke Williams missed the ball and Reece Yorke needed to clear off the line. But the visitors took the lead immediately after, with one-time Slough forward Victor Osubu heading in at the near post from a right wing cross.

Reece Yorke went close to levelling, but his goal bound header from a corner was well blocked, with Jake Parsons firing wide from the edge of the box.

But Slough drew level in spectacular fashion on 19 minutes thanks to a special goal from the recently re-signed Adam Martin. The midfielder, the home side’s best player on the night, hit the ball first time on the volley from 25 yards out after Johnny Gray had headed it away, and his effort hit the back of Alex Lynch’s net via the far post. The keeper had no chance, and Slough may well struggle to score a better goal all season.

Slough had the better of the play after equalising, but Burnham created more chances, with Luke Williams alert to rush out to meet Osubu and clear his lines, before the striker brought another save out of the Slough keeper.

And the visitors regained the lead six minutes before half time, capitalising on Slough’s wastefulness in possession. Josh Webb reacted quickest after a header from Carl Davies rebounded back off a post, and the defender finished into an empty goal - his reward for continuing his fine run into the box.

The second half started with Ed Smith, frustrated for most of the game, shooting wide with the outside of his foot from Johnnie Dyer’s knock-down, whilst Martin tried another ambitious effort on the volley from the edge of the area, but this time the ball flew wide.

Ryan Parsons was forced off with an injury which necessitated a reshuffle, with Scott Harris replacing him and Sean Fraser moving across to left-back, with Tom Moran moving over to the right.

Seeking an equalising goal with increasing desperation, Moran saw a header from a corner well blocked after James Dobson’s shot was deflected over.

Burnham looked set to hold on to their lead and attacked with purpose when they could, with Williams needing to make a couple of important stops.

The visitors’ chances of taking all three points increased with the dismissal of Dyer for a second yellow card. Referee Gregory Read adjudged the striker to have fouled Burnham keeper Lynch as the two collided, a decision which left Slough players aghast.

James Dobson almost laid a goal on a plate for Harris in the middle, but Danny Gordan was in the right place at the right time to put himself in front of the ball and block.

As the final few seconds ticked by, Slough won a final corner kick, which Dobson swung over. Slough kept the ball alive at the back post, with Yorke clipping the ball back into the middle, and after the ball was knocked on by Smith, Fraser popped up inside the six yard box to nod the ball past Lynch and spark frantic celebrations.

The defender, playing in his 99th game for the Rebels, may not score a more important one for the club, and it saved a point for Slough with the final whistle sounding almost immediately after the play resumed.

Burnham Lineup

Alex Lynch, Josh Webb, Johnny Gray, Danny Gordan, Melchi Williamson, Jon Montgomery, Nathan Webb, Carl Davies, Victor Osubu, Adam Bernard. Subs: Adam Dickens, Gareth Risbridger, Lewis Foggern, Leigh Mason, Conrad Joseph.

Rebels

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