Tonbridge Angels
1
Odokonyero (22)
Slough Town
2
Lench (1), Ogbonna (90+1)
League
Attendance: 1077
Yet another last-gasp goal sealed a vital win against Tonbridge Angels for Scott Davies’ Slough Town, writes Freddie Gatrell.
In what was an opportunity for redemption for the Rebels after their previous result against the Angels, it was a successful afternoon in Kent thanks to David Ogbonna’s stoppage-time strike, which the officials decided had narrowly crossed the goal line, much to the chagrin of the home side.
The Rebels wasted no time in netting an opener, capitalising on the hosts wasting possession straight from the kick-off. With only 37 seconds on the clock, Matt Lench was found at the edge of the box by Ogbonna. The central midfielder’s effort was exemplary, with his strike blasted into the top left corner, leaving Jonathan Henly scrambling in thin air.
With such an early opener, Slough looked in control in the opening stages, with Ogbonna and Lench causing havoc. Good interplay between Johnny Goddard and Ogbonna resulted in another drive from distance from Lench in the 10th minute, but his effort cleared the crossbar.
With their backs against the wall, the hosts fought back well and regained a foothold in the game. Jordan Greenidge proved a handful for the Rebels' defenders and was instrumental in the equalising goal for the hosts. Shrugging off Scott Davies, the 6’4” forward nodded the ball into the path of Nathan Odokonyero, who saw his shot squirm into the bottom left corner past Dan Lincoln.
Just on the stroke of half-time, the hosts could have put their noses in front, with a huge chance squandered by Odokonyero, who drove his shot just wide of the Slough goal from a promising position.
The second half began at a much calmer pace, with neither side creating too many chances. The first meaningful effort from either side came just after the hour mark, with a great cross from the right wing from Josh Jackman connecting with the head of Slavi Spasov, but the resulting flick on was straight into the gloves of the Tonbridge keeper.
Mere moments later, substitute Leon Chambers-Parillon slotted in Nathan Minhas, who was clean through on the Angels' goal. Well held up by the Tonbridge defence, Minhas’ eventual effort was tame, firing into the legs of Tonbridge’s defenders and eventually being cleared away.
With the clock ticking on, the final stages saw relentless Rebels pressure on the Tonbridge defence. Ogbonna - who had already notched an assist - was close to finding the net in the 77th minute, firing just wide from a tight angle.
With the referee signalling for five minutes of additional time, it was Slough who proved to have the killer instinct with the final chance of the match. A long throw from Lench found its way to Spasov, who neatly flicked the ball into the path of Minhas. Spasov, who had continued his run into the centre of the box, was found by Minhas’ cut-back but saw his effort well smothered by Henly - but only as far as Ogbonna, whose shot was adjudged to have crossed the line in the bottom left corner by the finest of margins, despite the best efforts of Tariq Hinds.
This vital goal sealed all three points for the Rebels, who now sit in an extremely favourable position, only one point off the play-off positions. Next up for Slough is a return to the imperious Arbour Park, with a clash against fourth-placed Bath City.
In what was an opportunity for redemption for the Rebels after their previous result against the Angels, it was a successful afternoon in Kent thanks to David Ogbonna’s stoppage-time strike, which the officials decided had narrowly crossed the goal line, much to the chagrin of the home side.
The Rebels wasted no time in netting an opener, capitalising on the hosts wasting possession straight from the kick-off. With only 37 seconds on the clock, Matt Lench was found at the edge of the box by Ogbonna. The central midfielder’s effort was exemplary, with his strike blasted into the top left corner, leaving Jonathan Henly scrambling in thin air.
With such an early opener, Slough looked in control in the opening stages, with Ogbonna and Lench causing havoc. Good interplay between Johnny Goddard and Ogbonna resulted in another drive from distance from Lench in the 10th minute, but his effort cleared the crossbar.
With their backs against the wall, the hosts fought back well and regained a foothold in the game. Jordan Greenidge proved a handful for the Rebels' defenders and was instrumental in the equalising goal for the hosts. Shrugging off Scott Davies, the 6’4” forward nodded the ball into the path of Nathan Odokonyero, who saw his shot squirm into the bottom left corner past Dan Lincoln.
Just on the stroke of half-time, the hosts could have put their noses in front, with a huge chance squandered by Odokonyero, who drove his shot just wide of the Slough goal from a promising position.
The second half began at a much calmer pace, with neither side creating too many chances. The first meaningful effort from either side came just after the hour mark, with a great cross from the right wing from Josh Jackman connecting with the head of Slavi Spasov, but the resulting flick on was straight into the gloves of the Tonbridge keeper.
Mere moments later, substitute Leon Chambers-Parillon slotted in Nathan Minhas, who was clean through on the Angels' goal. Well held up by the Tonbridge defence, Minhas’ eventual effort was tame, firing into the legs of Tonbridge’s defenders and eventually being cleared away.
With the clock ticking on, the final stages saw relentless Rebels pressure on the Tonbridge defence. Ogbonna - who had already notched an assist - was close to finding the net in the 77th minute, firing just wide from a tight angle.
With the referee signalling for five minutes of additional time, it was Slough who proved to have the killer instinct with the final chance of the match. A long throw from Lench found its way to Spasov, who neatly flicked the ball into the path of Minhas. Spasov, who had continued his run into the centre of the box, was found by Minhas’ cut-back but saw his effort well smothered by Henly - but only as far as Ogbonna, whose shot was adjudged to have crossed the line in the bottom left corner by the finest of margins, despite the best efforts of Tariq Hinds.
This vital goal sealed all three points for the Rebels, who now sit in an extremely favourable position, only one point off the play-off positions. Next up for Slough is a return to the imperious Arbour Park, with a clash against fourth-placed Bath City.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Dan Lincoln
- 2 Josh Jackman
- 5 Dan Bayliss
- 8 Matthew Lench
- 9 Nathan Minhas
- 10 Johnny Goddard
- 11 Christie Ward 12
- 14 Scott Davies
- 16 Temi Eweka
- 23 David Ogbonna
- 24 Slavi Spasov 4
Substitutes
- 4 Joe Dandy 24
- 12 Leon Parillon 11
- 13 Freddie Solly
- 15 Eze Ebuzoeme
- 17 Tyrese Dyce
Tonbridge Angels Lineup
Henly, Lyons-Foster, Gard (Hanson 70), Higgs, Odokonyero, Hinds, Sutcliffe, Greenidge (Mampolo 60), Wagstaff (c), Shields, Vincent. Unused substitutes: Aransibia, Gibb, Dabre.