Captain Fantastic Rescues Point

In a game where Slough dominated the first half only to see the scoreline turned round and staring defeat in the face, it was a man playing his 200th game for the Rebels who salvaged a point. A man who since early 1999 has led from the back, captaining the side for much of that time, and being a real tower of strength. A man who is a true legend of the amber and blue shirts.

Steve Daly’s header with eight minutes remaining only won the away side a point in the grand scheme of things, but last night it inspired the team and sent them looking for a late winner. It is this type of leadership that Slough fans and players alike have become accustomed to over the last five years and his never say die performances will be sorely missed when he finally decides to hang up his boots.

Slough started the game with a single change from Saturday, Glen Harris making his first start of the season playing just behind Ian Hodges while Matt Seedel had to be content with starting on the bench.

During the opening moments Tonbridge made most of the running and Luke Piscina twice fired dangerous efforts at Jake Whincup’s goal. The first was a simple enough save although for the second the young keeper would have been pleased to see James Saulsbury’s head clear the ball as it curled towards the top corner.

Slough then started to take control as good work from Christian Metcalfe led to Darron Wilkinson providing a throughball which Hodges hit just over the crossbar. The Rebels were forced into an early change, however, Veli Hakki who was injured on Saturday lasted only twelve minutes before he was replaced by Seedel.

Angels’ player-manager Tony Dolby tested Whincup again from long range but the keeper’s save and clearance set up a Slough attack which eventually saw Seedel tee up Josias Carbon who sliced a volley well wide.

Shortly before the half hour mark, Slough took the lead with what was a really hard worked goal. Alex Haddow won two 50:50 tackles on the left before taking off down the wing. He played a one two with Hodges before continuing towards the touchline to deliver his cross. Although not the best ball in, Seedel produced some good control, holding off Andy Larkin, and laying the ball back to Harris who hit the ball with swerve and force, which confused Jamie Turner and resulted in the ball flying high into the net.

The goal led to more pressure from the away side although real chances were few and far between, Carbon having the last of the half as his high drive was well held by Turner just in front of his goalline.

The second half started with Slough still applying the majority of the pressure with Haddow and Carbon firing just over while a good throughball by Metcalfe found Seedel whose curling shot looked to be heading for the corner until Turner used his fingertips to put it round the post.

There was one scare for Slough during the opening exchanges, as the usually reliable Whincup dropped the ball which hit Michael Murphy on the knee. As the ball rolled dangerously towards the goalline, the defender just managed to get back in time and somehow hook the ball off the line for a throw in.

As the game headed into its final third, Slough’s mentality seemed to change as they began to sit back as they did against Harrow and Wealdstone.
However, while those two teams were incapable of scoring, Tonbridge had no such difficulty. Their first came after twice the ball was cleared to Metcalfe but twice the midfielder dwelt too long on the ball and was tackled, the second time leading to an Angels corner. From the delivery the ball seemed to be floating out but somehow Tim Hambley rescued the ball and his volley inadvertently flew towards goal. Whincup made an initial save but the ball fell to Larkin, whose close range overhead kick gave the keeper no chance.

As Tonbridge took more and more of the initiative, the away side once again lost the ball in midfield giving Piscina time and space to pick out a pass to Hambley. This he did and the big striker made no mistake as he fired a powerful effort across Whincup and into the corner. Two goals in four minutes had totally turned the match around.

Slough tried to come back but when Murphy and Hodges set up Metcalfe his drive was high and wide. As Slough pushed on they were leaving gaps at the back, ones which were nearly exploited by Piscina whose 30 yard drive went just wide of the post.

With eight minutes remaining, it still looked as though Slough could not find a way back into the match. Then Hodges was fouled by Patrick Blackman on the right, 30 yards from goal. Murphy took the free kick and found an unmarked Daly whose textbook downward header hit the base of the post and rolled into the net to level the scores.

Both sides had chances to win the game late on, the home side scaring the Rebels as in the last minute they kept possession round the edge of the box but eventually Sam Tydeman’s long range strike went well over. From the goal kick the ball finally found its way to Haddow on the left edge of the box who cut in and attempted to get past Dolby. The defender stuck out a leg and appeared to bring down Haddow for what looked like a sure fire penalty.
However, the referee, Mr. Smith, adjudged that Dolby had won the ball awarding only a corner instead.

At the final whistle, Slough fans were mostly happy with the point although it could have been better had the team kept the pressure up for ninety minutes. In the end though the point was won by the ever reliable head of the ever reliable Steve Daly.