Abbott steals a point for Shots

Former Slough Town star Gary Abbott came back to haunt his old side, hitting the crucial goal to snatch a point on Saturday at the Recreation Ground.

Abbott, one of the Wexham Park favourites last season, struck a breathtaking goal in the 41st minute to cancel out Slough's lead and notch up his 35th goal of the season.

Slough made the most of the early running and outplayed the home side in the first 30 minutes. Full back Micky Engwell, Slough's captain in the absence of the injured Steve Daly, made the most of the space he was given down the right hand side. And, after just seven minutes, it was Engwell who finished off a neat move involving midfielder Mark Hall. But he could only strike his powerful half-volley into the arms of Shots keeper Gary Phillips.

The Rebels should have taken the lead after 10 minutes, but striker Simon Quail made a hash of a great chance. Beating three defenders and getting the luck of the bounce, Quail found himself with just the keeper to beat, but could only scuff his shot well wide.

Aldershot had no response to Slough's slick passing game and Dean Samuels almost unlocked the home defence on 25 minutes. Samuels drew three defenders to him in the corner leaving Quail free and unmarked in the middle, but the lanky striker got closed down and the ball was knocked out of play for a corner.

From Lee Archer's centre. Abbott showed off his defensive skills, clearing Quail's shot off the line after Shots keeper Phillips totally missed the cross. Aldershot's Russell Watkinson went close on the hall hour mark but his low drive was grabbed by Slough keeper Paul Wilkerson on the second attempt.

Samuels should have been through on goal after 33 minutes when Hall hit delightful ball which cut oper the home defence. But the former Stevenage striker, who has only just come back from a serious hamstring injury, showed his lack of pace as he was easily closed down by Aldershot.

Slough took a deserved lead after a comedy of errors by Aldershot's left back Jesse Hall. Playing out of position Hall totally missed a high ball, and when Samuels chased down the second bounce the Aldershot player slipped and let the Rebels striker in on goal. But just as Samuels got into the Shots box Hall tried in vain to make a saving tackle, pulling down the Slough player for a clear-cut but needless penalty. Archer was on hand to fire the visitors into a 37th minute lead, sending Phillips the wrong way.

But Slough's lead lasted for just four minutes, and ironically it was Abbott who popped up to score the equaliser.
A great long ball from Watkinson eluded the Slough defence and Abbott took the ball down cleverly on his chest, wasting no time in rifling the ball past his former team-mate Wilkerson and into the roof of the net.

Just before half-time Aldershot's Steve McGrath was booked for a careless challenge on Hall.

And, only eight minutes after the restart, Watkinson saw red after he wrestled Hall to the ground when the lively Slough midfielder had a clear run on goal. Referee John Moore had no option but to give the Shots right back an early bath, and Slough the perfect chance to upset another of the top teams.

But a dull second half saw 10-man Aldershot keep Slough on the back foot and the home side kept possession superbly, firing in some superb long range efforts. On reflection, a draw was a fair result and no doubt both managers will have been content with a point at this stage of the season.