Macclesfield Town
1
Coates (76)
Slough Town
1
Smart (60)
League
Attendance: 591
Tony Nolan
Ross Pickett saw a possible last-minute winner wiped out as the Rebels stole an unlikely point at reigning Conference champions Macclesfield on Thursday.
Pickett, who has found the net just once for Slough all season, thought he had scored after charging through and seeing keeper Price thump the ball against him.
Neil Catlin played it behind the defence, and Pickett netted into an open goal - but the linesman controversially flagged for offside despite last man Gardiner appearing to be level with the striker.
Manager Brian McDermott - who was close by at the time - claimed the goal should have been allowed to stand.
As it was, a point flattered the Rebels as they came up against the most positive attacking side in the league, who carved the heart out of the defence at every opportunity and hit the woodwork some four times during the game.
Macclesfield, you see, are heading for Wembley in the FA Trophy, and want everyone to know. To that end, they debuted their cup final single `Macc Town', an effort which makes 'Diamond Lights' sound like the Three Tenors.
But they hit the right notes on the night and had chances in the first five minutes, and Ben Miles had to get down well to stop Lyons as he raced through one-on-one.
Sorvel also managed tea hit the inside of the post and Hulme saw an amazing double header come off. the underside of the bar twice.
An audacious Tony Nolan lob that hit the bar from 40 yards was the best the Rebels could muster, as they grafted hard one step behind their northern hosts.
When they took the lead on the hour, then, it was a shock. Garry Smart got the ball on the edge of the box and hit a fairly weak effort towards goal. But Price saw it late, failed to react in time and it crept into the corner.
Macclesfield plugged away desperately, however and finally got their equaliser when Gardiner swung in one of many crosses from the left and Coates got in ahead of Lee Harvey to nod confidently home.
McDermott gave himself a first full 90 minutes for injury-stricken Slough, and for the last away trip in a long season their gutsy performance at least will have buoyed him.
Pickett, who has found the net just once for Slough all season, thought he had scored after charging through and seeing keeper Price thump the ball against him.
Neil Catlin played it behind the defence, and Pickett netted into an open goal - but the linesman controversially flagged for offside despite last man Gardiner appearing to be level with the striker.
Manager Brian McDermott - who was close by at the time - claimed the goal should have been allowed to stand.
As it was, a point flattered the Rebels as they came up against the most positive attacking side in the league, who carved the heart out of the defence at every opportunity and hit the woodwork some four times during the game.
Macclesfield, you see, are heading for Wembley in the FA Trophy, and want everyone to know. To that end, they debuted their cup final single `Macc Town', an effort which makes 'Diamond Lights' sound like the Three Tenors.
But they hit the right notes on the night and had chances in the first five minutes, and Ben Miles had to get down well to stop Lyons as he raced through one-on-one.
Sorvel also managed tea hit the inside of the post and Hulme saw an amazing double header come off. the underside of the bar twice.
An audacious Tony Nolan lob that hit the bar from 40 yards was the best the Rebels could muster, as they grafted hard one step behind their northern hosts.
When they took the lead on the hour, then, it was a shock. Garry Smart got the ball on the edge of the box and hit a fairly weak effort towards goal. But Price saw it late, failed to react in time and it crept into the corner.
Macclesfield plugged away desperately, however and finally got their equaliser when Gardiner swung in one of many crosses from the left and Coates got in ahead of Lee Harvey to nod confidently home.
McDermott gave himself a first full 90 minutes for injury-stricken Slough, and for the last away trip in a long season their gutsy performance at least will have buoyed him.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Ben Miles
- 2 Garry Smart
- 3 Tony Nolan
- 4 Lee Harvey
- 5 Steve Bateman
- 6 Neil Catlin
- 7 Brian McDermott
- 8 Brian Lee
- 9 Mark West 12
- 10 Ross Pickett
- 11 Mark Fiore
Substitutes
- 12 Andy Gray 9
- 14 Danny Wicks
- 15 Robert Smith
Macclesfield Town Lineup
Price, Edey, Gardiner, Tinson, Howarth, Sorvel, Lyons, Hulme, Coates, Wood, Hemmings