Slough Town
3
Johnson (33, pen), Thompson (36, 41)
St Albans City
3
Colfer (24), Henry (81), Oliver (87)
League
Attendance: 626
Steve Thompson
League football returned to Wexham park with bang on Tuesday night, with the Rebels conceding two late goals in this action-packed match.
Slough threw away their two goal lead after the defence caved-in under the visitors pressure. His absence meant that How stayed behind the back four as sweeper, but Thompson recovered from a knock on Saturday to start.
The game kicked off on a superb playing surface, and in ideal conditions — a warm dry evening. St Albans had much the better start, although their early pressure was as much a result of the Slough defence determined to play the ball towards the same goal that the opposition were attacking.
Williams was nearly in when Bateman left the ball for Bunting and then Colfer missed an open goal with the Slough defence in disarray. The Rebels got back into the game with How finding Adams regularly on the left, but his crosses came to nothing.
The Slough defence became more lethargic, and St Albans sensed this, pushing forward quickly and rushing them into errors. It was only a matter of time before the visitors scored and Colfer found himself unmarked at the far post to slide under Bunting from a Howe cross with 24 minutes gone.
After 33 minutes, Thompson was bundled to the ground in the St Albans penalty area, and Johnson converted to level the scores.
Three minutes later, a superb goal by Steve Thompson gave the Rebels the lead, Adams returning his neat pass for Thompson to curl the ball home from the edge of the box.
It was Thompson again who increased the lead five minutes into the second-half, firing home from close range after Dodd had flicked-on Adam's corner.
But the two-goal man of the match was substituted for Stanley soon after his knock from Saturday got worse, and minutes later Langley almost put the game beyond doubt, but he had his low shot cleared from the line.
St Albans had a goal disallowed for an infringment, and had been denied what seemed a clear penalty minutes earlier.
The visitors pushed forward and won regular corners as they pulled themselves back into the game. After 81 minutes, Henry fired home as the ball was allowed to run across the face of the goal, on 87 minutes Oliver fired in an effort that took 'a wicked deflection to drop slowly into the net for the equaliser.
With virtually the last kick, Adams hit the post with a long curling effort, but it would have been an injustice had Slough come out victors.
Allan Davies said after the game: "St Albans got what they deserved," and admitted that Slough made all the problems for themselves. Our strength has always been in defence, but it is hard to say that after tonight," he added, but felt that St Albans were well worth their point.
Slough threw away their two goal lead after the defence caved-in under the visitors pressure. His absence meant that How stayed behind the back four as sweeper, but Thompson recovered from a knock on Saturday to start.
The game kicked off on a superb playing surface, and in ideal conditions — a warm dry evening. St Albans had much the better start, although their early pressure was as much a result of the Slough defence determined to play the ball towards the same goal that the opposition were attacking.
Williams was nearly in when Bateman left the ball for Bunting and then Colfer missed an open goal with the Slough defence in disarray. The Rebels got back into the game with How finding Adams regularly on the left, but his crosses came to nothing.
The Slough defence became more lethargic, and St Albans sensed this, pushing forward quickly and rushing them into errors. It was only a matter of time before the visitors scored and Colfer found himself unmarked at the far post to slide under Bunting from a Howe cross with 24 minutes gone.
After 33 minutes, Thompson was bundled to the ground in the St Albans penalty area, and Johnson converted to level the scores.
Three minutes later, a superb goal by Steve Thompson gave the Rebels the lead, Adams returning his neat pass for Thompson to curl the ball home from the edge of the box.
It was Thompson again who increased the lead five minutes into the second-half, firing home from close range after Dodd had flicked-on Adam's corner.
But the two-goal man of the match was substituted for Stanley soon after his knock from Saturday got worse, and minutes later Langley almost put the game beyond doubt, but he had his low shot cleared from the line.
St Albans had a goal disallowed for an infringment, and had been denied what seemed a clear penalty minutes earlier.
The visitors pushed forward and won regular corners as they pulled themselves back into the game. After 81 minutes, Henry fired home as the ball was allowed to run across the face of the goal, on 87 minutes Oliver fired in an effort that took 'a wicked deflection to drop slowly into the net for the equaliser.
With virtually the last kick, Adams hit the post with a long curling effort, but it would have been an injustice had Slough come out victors.
Allan Davies said after the game: "St Albans got what they deserved," and admitted that Slough made all the problems for themselves. Our strength has always been in defence, but it is hard to say that after tonight," he added, but felt that St Albans were well worth their point.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Trevor Bunting
- 2 Trevor How
- 3 Robbie Johnson
- 4 Tony Knight
- 5 Jeff Bateman
- 6 Brian Connor
- 7 Tony Dell
- 8 Gary Dodd
- 9 Tommy Langley
- 10 Steve Thompson
- 11 Mark Adams
Substitutes
- 12 Neal Stanley
- 14 Barry Rake