Slough Town
0
Wealdstone
1
Stevens (48)
League
Attendance: 985
Warren Harris
After three fantastic wins, Slough came back down to Earth with a bump and started 2019 with a home defeat against Wealdstone.
It was a disappointing display overall, with the visitors – who the Rebels defeated 3-0 in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day – having the best chances and ultimately taking all three points thanks to Connor Stevens’ header early in the second half.
Things got off to a good start for Slough as they dominated possession and territory early. Two shots from Chris Flood and Ben Harris were well blocked by Wealdstone defenders and it looked a matter of time before the home side would take the lead.
Slough continued to apply the pressure with further efforts from Ben Harris and James Dobson, but goalkeeper Jonathan North was never called upon.
On 11 minutes Ben Harris was booked by referee Steven Hughes after he put in a heavy tackle on Bradley Hudson-Odoi. Dobson would soon follow him into the book for a clear foul as Slough perhaps grew frustrated that their early pressure had not resulted in a goal.
Wealdstone had their first chance with 20 minutes on the clock as Daniel Green crossed the ball low along the six yard box but there was no one there to tap it in. A minute later Jeffery Monakana was played through on goal and forced a great save from Jack Turner to keep the scores level.
Slough got back to their passing football for a moment and some good interplay saw Warren Harris get into the box but he was unable to get a shot away, and his cross didn’t find anyone in an amber shirt.
Using his pace to run on to a flick-on, the former Chippenham target man David Pratt found himself one-on-one but again Jack Turner stood tall to make the save, with Wealdstone now looking the more likely to open the scoring.
Dobson tried his luck from range just before the break, but on his right foot he struggled to test North.
Then, in the one minute of added time at the end of the first half, Slough very nearly scored an own goal. A cross came in from the right which hit Sam Togwell in the stomach and almost wrong-footed Turner, but the Slough keeper was able to react brilliantly and get down low to clear the ball off the line.
Half time arrived with the game goalless, and at the break Slough replaced Ben Harris with Oxford United loanee Dejon Noel-Williams.
Slough offered the first shot of the half through Simon Dunn, but it lacked power and was easily gathered by North. From this Wealdstone, counter-attacked and won a corner. The ball was whipped in to the edge of the six yard box where Connor Stevens rose highest to power his header past the Slough defence giving Turner no chance.
A few minutes later Wealdstone had a perfect opportunity to double their lead as Simon Mensah crossed low towards Pratt who stuck a leg out but couldn’t quite get enough of a connection to push the ball towards goal – a big let-off for Slough.
The home side made attacking changes in an attempt to get back into the game, with Lee Togwell replacing Sean Fraser and Simon Dunn later making way for Manny Williams.
A dangerous Dobson cross was punched away by North just ahead of Chris Flood who was looking to tap the ball in. This was followed by another save from North, who tipped over a header from Noel-Williams, after Sam Togwell had headed back across goal.
With Slough cranking up the pressure, Wealdstone were happy to try to wind the clock down where possible and frustrate Slough, whose best chance looked to come from crosses and set pieces. Dobson was denied by a fine one-handed save from North as he whipped in a free kick, whilst Scott Davies’ flicked effort was also kept out and a header from Mark Nisbet lacked sufficient power to beat North.
At the other end Wealdstone had their final chance of the match as a good cross found Pratt but he couldn’t get any power on it and Turner saved easily.
It was a disappointing display overall, with the visitors – who the Rebels defeated 3-0 in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day – having the best chances and ultimately taking all three points thanks to Connor Stevens’ header early in the second half.
Things got off to a good start for Slough as they dominated possession and territory early. Two shots from Chris Flood and Ben Harris were well blocked by Wealdstone defenders and it looked a matter of time before the home side would take the lead.
Slough continued to apply the pressure with further efforts from Ben Harris and James Dobson, but goalkeeper Jonathan North was never called upon.
On 11 minutes Ben Harris was booked by referee Steven Hughes after he put in a heavy tackle on Bradley Hudson-Odoi. Dobson would soon follow him into the book for a clear foul as Slough perhaps grew frustrated that their early pressure had not resulted in a goal.
Wealdstone had their first chance with 20 minutes on the clock as Daniel Green crossed the ball low along the six yard box but there was no one there to tap it in. A minute later Jeffery Monakana was played through on goal and forced a great save from Jack Turner to keep the scores level.
Slough got back to their passing football for a moment and some good interplay saw Warren Harris get into the box but he was unable to get a shot away, and his cross didn’t find anyone in an amber shirt.
Using his pace to run on to a flick-on, the former Chippenham target man David Pratt found himself one-on-one but again Jack Turner stood tall to make the save, with Wealdstone now looking the more likely to open the scoring.
Dobson tried his luck from range just before the break, but on his right foot he struggled to test North.
Then, in the one minute of added time at the end of the first half, Slough very nearly scored an own goal. A cross came in from the right which hit Sam Togwell in the stomach and almost wrong-footed Turner, but the Slough keeper was able to react brilliantly and get down low to clear the ball off the line.
Half time arrived with the game goalless, and at the break Slough replaced Ben Harris with Oxford United loanee Dejon Noel-Williams.
Slough offered the first shot of the half through Simon Dunn, but it lacked power and was easily gathered by North. From this Wealdstone, counter-attacked and won a corner. The ball was whipped in to the edge of the six yard box where Connor Stevens rose highest to power his header past the Slough defence giving Turner no chance.
A few minutes later Wealdstone had a perfect opportunity to double their lead as Simon Mensah crossed low towards Pratt who stuck a leg out but couldn’t quite get enough of a connection to push the ball towards goal – a big let-off for Slough.
The home side made attacking changes in an attempt to get back into the game, with Lee Togwell replacing Sean Fraser and Simon Dunn later making way for Manny Williams.
A dangerous Dobson cross was punched away by North just ahead of Chris Flood who was looking to tap the ball in. This was followed by another save from North, who tipped over a header from Noel-Williams, after Sam Togwell had headed back across goal.
With Slough cranking up the pressure, Wealdstone were happy to try to wind the clock down where possible and frustrate Slough, whose best chance looked to come from crosses and set pieces. Dobson was denied by a fine one-handed save from North as he whipped in a free kick, whilst Scott Davies’ flicked effort was also kept out and a header from Mark Nisbet lacked sufficient power to beat North.
At the other end Wealdstone had their final chance of the match as a good cross found Pratt but he couldn’t get any power on it and Turner saved easily.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Jack Turner
- 2 Sean Fraser 14
- 3 George Wells
- 4 Sam Togwell
- 5 Mark Nisbet
- 6 Scott Davies
- 7 James Dobson
- 8 Simon Dunn 18
- 9 Ben Harris 16
- 10 Chris Flood
- 11 Warren Harris
Substitutes
- 12 Guy Hollis
- 14 Lee Togwell 2
- 15 Louie Soares
- 16 Dejon Noel-Williams 9
- 18 Manny Williams 8
Wealdstone Lineup
Jonathan North, Jake Shephard, Ramami Medford-Smith, Connor Stevens, Jerome Okimo (c), Godfrey Poku, Jeffery Monakana (Pawel Kowalkowski 84), Simon Mensah, David Pratt, Daniel Green, Bradley Hudson-Odoi (Matthew Lench 90+1). Unused substitutes: Glen Wilson, Christian Smith, Ogo Obi.