Rebels and Stones share the points

Slough picked up their second point of the season with a draw at Maidstone United.

The Rebels made the trip to Kent to visit a full time outfit in Maidstone, and fielded the same lineup as that which earnt the first point of the season in midweek against Weymouth, with Josh Jackman replacing Nojus Trinovas on the bench for the first time this season.
 
It was a tentative start from both teams, looking to feel their way into the game after poor starts to the season.

The first chance of the game came to Slough. Guy Hollis chose to throw the ball back to George Wells rather than put it into the box himself. Wells crossed the ball in with the defence pushing up, Scott Davies stayed onside and forced a good save from Jake Cole from his header.

A few minutes later, Sean Fraser’s cross was not cleared and the ball fell at the feet of Dan Roberts. Unfortunately, he had to wait for the ball to drop before shooting by which time George Elokobi had got back into position to block the shot.

It took the home side 18 minutes to create their first real chance. The referee turned down two strong appeals from Slough for fouls, allowing Justin Amaluzor to counter-attack but he was forced wide with his cross being easily caught by Jack Turner.

Then on 20 minutes Matt Lench opened the scoring. Picking the ball up centrally he pushed forward before shooting from outside the box, with his shot taking a big deflection off Ryan Johnson as he tried to block, taking the ball over the head of goalkeeper Cole.

A good flick past the defence from Nana Kyei found Amaluzor, who beat the offside trap but just as he looked to shoot, Sam Togwell had tracked back well to block.

Moments later Maidstone were able to finally test Turner. With the ball on the edge of the box Kyei laid the ball off to recent signing Matt McClure, with Turner saving low to his left.

Maidstone made a change on 30 minutes with Amaluzor being replaced by Dan Wishart. Then on 37 minutes the home side got an equalizer against the run of play. A speculative boot forward saw McClure win a foot race against Turner to the ball. Knocking it past the keeper, McClure then did very well to score from a tight angle.

Maidstone then had slightly the better of the final few minutes of the half with neither team testing the other’s goalkeeper.

In the second half an early chance arrived for the hosts as Wells took a poor touch, allowing Sam Corne to shoot across goal but wide.

Little then happened until the 62nd minute when both sides made changes. For Slough, Ryan Bird and Francis Amartey replaced Ben Harris and Dan Roberts, whilst the hosts brought on Ibby Kanbi and Iffy Allen in place of Saidou Kahn and Nana Kyei.

The changes nearly had an immediate impact for Maidstone as a good flick from a throw in nearly gave a chance to McClure.

On what was becoming a rare venture forward, Lench was able to play in Lee Togwell down the left but his cross was poor and over everyone’s head. Slough then made their final change on 76 minutes as Max Worsfold replaced Matt Lench.

The final 15 minutes was one-way traffic as Slough tired and Maidstone grew in confidence.

Turner made a good save from Noah Chesmain’s free kick. Not long after there was a scramble in the box as Akanbi tried to make space but found the ball caught under his feet. He eventually beat Turner, but not Hollis who made the block.

On 81 minutes a Maidstone corner fell to Johnson who shot on the turn, but his effort was headed off the line by Bird. Just a minute later Slough were forced into another goal line clearance. Allen’s effort was blocked by Sean Fraser, but he got in position to try again, and again Fraser was on hand quite magnificently to slide in and block for a second time in quick succession.

With a minute remaining Slough got a rare opportunity to score the winner themselves but Johnson did brilliantly to get back and clear the ball high from Amartey, who was waiting for the ball to fall to more than likely score.

In four added minutes, one final chance arrived for Maidstone but Corne’s effort went wide, meaning Slough left with a hard-earned point in the end but one that was very much deserved as the Rebels still go in search of their first win of the season.

Report: Will Tuck