Slough frustrated after draw at Chelmsford

Chelmsford City

Chelmsford City

1
Blackwell (75)
Slough Town

Slough Town

1
Hunt (31)
League Attendance: 680
Slough Town were left frustrated as they had to settle for a point at The EMG Inspire Stadium, after seeing a late goal from substitute Tyler Goodrham ruled out for offside.

The point for ten-man Chelmsford City is enough to secure their safety in Vanarama National League South, but for the Rebels it represents a missed opportunity to cut the gap between themselves and seventh-placed Havant & Waterlooville, with the gap remaining at five points with three games remaining.

The big talking point from a Slough perspective came as the game approached stoppage time in the second half. Imran Kayani’s strike from outside the box was saved by the feet of goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle, and Goodrham was on hand to nod home the loose ball – but the match officials ruled that Ben Harris had been in an offside position and in the goalkeeper’s line of sight when the initial shot was struck.

Chelmsford had been reduced to ten men early in the second half when Dave Winfield – who was only introduced to the game at half time – was dismissed when a high boot made contact with Aaron Kuhl, adjudged by the referee to be dangerous play.

By that point, the Clarets were a goal behind after George Hunt scored his second of the season in the 31st minute – but the hosts rallied after the red card and went on to enjoy their best spell of the game.

The first major chance of the game was for the hosts’ Cameron James, whose effort was cleared off the line by Kuhl.

Slough took the lead when Kuhl slid in Hunt, who sidestepped a defender and fired an effort into the far corner, past the reach of McKenzie-Lyle.

Lee Togwell almost registered an unlikely goal on his 250th Rebels appearance, his volleyed effort skimming the crossbar from 25 yards.

After Winfield’s dismissal early in the second period, Chelmsford pushed for an equaliser and spurned several chances.

Tom Blackwell fired a left-footed shot wide, and substitute Simeon Jackson went closer still as he rounded Jonathan North, only for his effort to fail to hit the target.

But Chelmsford were not to be denied, and after a well-worked corner routine involving Louis Dunne and Chez Isaac, the ball was worked to Blackwell on the edge of the box and he drilled it through a number of bodies and into the Slough net.

The goal prompted Slough – with one eye on the scores elsewhere – to look for a winning goal, introducing Kayani, Harris and Goodrham to the attack.

Before Goodrham’s effort was ruled out, Harris had gone agonisingly close to restoring the Rebels’ lead as he headed wide from a Goodrham free kick. Then, Slough were relieved to see North superbly deny Jackson after he broke through the Rebels’ high defensive line late on.

Chelmsford City Lineup

McKenzie-Lyle; Isaac, Oluwo, James, Vaz; Frimpong (Winfield 46), Dunne; Rush (Moore 85), Dada (Jackson 67), Blackwell, Sheringham (c). Unused substitutes: Simpson, Dickens.

Rebels

Slough Town FC is not responsible for content produced on external websites | Copyright Slough Town FC 2024