Rebels denied by late leveller at Billericay

Billericay Town

Billericay Town

2
Alfa (41), Henry (90+1)
Slough Town

Slough Town

2
Lench (14), Wells (73)
League Attendance: 849 Matthew Lench
Slough Town are still looking for their first win of 2020 after Ronnie Henry’s stoppage-time goal meant the Rebels left New Lodge with just a point.

On the balance of play however, Slough cannot be too disappointed with the result, having been under pressure for large periods of the second half after enjoying a good opening 45 minutes.

After being impacted by injury and illness against Eastbourne Borough the previous Saturday, Slough were able to welcome Max Worsfold and Dan Roberts back into the starting eleven.

Slough started brightly, punishing their hosts by pressing and winning possession high up the pitch. Inside the opening few minutes, Matty Lench fired wide and Sean Fraser found himself in an advanced position, but could only shoot over the bar.

There was a real scare for the Rebels on 12 minutes as the impressive Odysseus Alfa crashed a shot against Jack Turner’s crossbar.

But Slough responded brilliantly and took the lead minutes later, with Lench showing great technical ability and composure to volley into the bottom corner past Nathan Harness.

Billericay were denied a quick equaliser five minutes later but Sam Togwell put in a superb tackle to deny the hosts – and minutes later his brother Lee fired well wide after fine work from Worsfold and Lench to set him up.

Again Worsfold and Lench linked up on 39 minutes, and this time the latter again found space for a shot which flew wide. Then, just a minute later Worsfold’s excellent cross looked like it would be converted by Roberts, but it was crucially cleared.

Slough were punished just a minute later as the dangerman Alfa got into the penalty area and squeezed in a shot which deflected off Sam Togwell and looped over Turner to level the scores.

This was a blow for the Rebels after having much the better of the first half, and the second half was a different story with the hosts creating chance after chance.

Turner saved well from Henry at an early corner, and on the hour mark the Essex side went close with the same player sending a header just wide of the Slough goal.

Billericay had introduced Jake Robinson from the bench at the break, and the hotshot striker tested Turner with a header on 64 minutes.

Five minutes later, Turner had to be at his absolute best as he palmed over a shot from Alfa which looked destined for the top corner, and shortly after Jack Paxman cut inside before smashing a shot just wide.

But for all their pressure, it was to be Slough who scored the next goal of the game, taking the lead with their first strike on target of the second half. Lee Togwell headed the ball into the penalty area and found George Wells in space – and the left back was able to control and lash the ball past Harness to give his side the lead on 73 minutes.

Dejon Noel-Williams was denied by a great block and Paxman fired over from the rebound as the hosts looked to respond again.

However there was late drama as, two minutes into time added on, Robinson headed back across goal for Henry to chest the ball home from point blank range and deny Slough all three points.

There was still time for the hosts to almost steal the victory, but Alfa fired just wide seconds before the final whistle.

Billericay Town Lineup

Nathan Harness, Ben Nunn, Harry Hudson, Ronnie Henry (c), Alfie Potter (Jake Robinson HT), Odysseus Alfa, Doug Loft, Jack Paxman, Femi Akinwande, Themis Kefelas, Dejon Noel-Williams. Unused substitutes: Brian Galach, Louis Ramsay, Josh Urquhart, Jacob Cook.

Rebels

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