Slough Town
1
Goddard (pen 77)
Welling United
1
R Grant (71)
League
Attendance: 1849
David Ogbonna
A Johnny Goddard penalty kick kept the Rebels’ long unbeaten streak at home alive in the final match of the season on a momentous day for the club, writes Joey Gargini.
It was announced just before kickoff that Slough Town had secured a revised 50-year lease at Arbour Park, ensuring that the Rebels would be at the heart of the Slough community for decades to come. With news of an announcement, plus other family activities in place at Arbour Park on the day, a massive crowd of 1,849 watched on as the Rebels attempted to see the season out on a high – the club’s largest league attendance at Arbour Park and the largest league attendance since October 1996.
Slough Town started the stronger of the two sides, dominating possession with the ball rarely entering their half. The first shot on target for the Rebels came in the 13th minute with a lofted through ball by Leon Chambers-Parillon putting Matt Lench through on goal but the resulting effort was well stopped by the goalkeeper, Reece Charles-Cook.
The Rebels came close again in the 21st minute when Matt Lench curled in a corner kick towards the front post which found the head of Dan Bayliss. He directed a strong attempt towards the Welling goal, but saw the chance excellently saved by Charles-Cook.
Slough continued to push for an opener with Leon Chambers-Parillon unleashing a powerful long-range strike which went just wide of the goal in the 28th minute.
Slough’s closest chance of the first half came just after the half-hour mark. An excellent delivery from David Ogbonna fell into the path of Johnny Goddard but his effort flew over the goal.
The Rebels were frustrated even further with David Ogbonna hitting the woodwork in the 40th minute. Working space well, the winger’s curling effort clattered the upright.
A late effort from Nathan Minhas from the edge of the area was again well stopped again by the Wings’ shot stopper to end a frustrating half.
The second half was a different story, with the visitors coming into the game. A first chance of note for the visitors came from a Jack Burchell corner, taken short in the 53rd minute. The set piece found EFL veteran, Anthony Grant at the edge of the box, who worked space well and fired just wide of Dan Lincoln’s goal.
Welling went close again in the 63rd minute when Jason Adigun found space in the box, unleashing a strong effort which was parried away by Dan Lincoln.
Welling’s pressure eventually was rewarded, breaking the deadlock in the 71st minute. A quick passing move brought the ball wide to Adigun. With space and time to find a pass, he squared the ball to the feet of Reece Grant who fired home through Lincoln’s legs.
The Rebels refused to go out quietly with David Ogbonna’s perseverance winning Scott Davies’ men a penalty kick only five minutes later.
The tricky winger saw a fortunate touch bounce over the head of Cameron Green, with Ogbonna reaching the ball first and being hauled down by the Welling number three. Johnny Goddard stepped up and sent Charles-Cook the wrong way, firing hard and low into the bottom of the net to make it 19 goals for the season and secure top scorer status for the 2023/24 season.
Although both sides pushed for a late winner, neither could find a winning goal. With the spoils shared, the Rebels made it 23 games unbeaten at Arbour Park, leaving the record intact going into next season.
It was announced just before kickoff that Slough Town had secured a revised 50-year lease at Arbour Park, ensuring that the Rebels would be at the heart of the Slough community for decades to come. With news of an announcement, plus other family activities in place at Arbour Park on the day, a massive crowd of 1,849 watched on as the Rebels attempted to see the season out on a high – the club’s largest league attendance at Arbour Park and the largest league attendance since October 1996.
Slough Town started the stronger of the two sides, dominating possession with the ball rarely entering their half. The first shot on target for the Rebels came in the 13th minute with a lofted through ball by Leon Chambers-Parillon putting Matt Lench through on goal but the resulting effort was well stopped by the goalkeeper, Reece Charles-Cook.
The Rebels came close again in the 21st minute when Matt Lench curled in a corner kick towards the front post which found the head of Dan Bayliss. He directed a strong attempt towards the Welling goal, but saw the chance excellently saved by Charles-Cook.
Slough continued to push for an opener with Leon Chambers-Parillon unleashing a powerful long-range strike which went just wide of the goal in the 28th minute.
Slough’s closest chance of the first half came just after the half-hour mark. An excellent delivery from David Ogbonna fell into the path of Johnny Goddard but his effort flew over the goal.
The Rebels were frustrated even further with David Ogbonna hitting the woodwork in the 40th minute. Working space well, the winger’s curling effort clattered the upright.
A late effort from Nathan Minhas from the edge of the area was again well stopped again by the Wings’ shot stopper to end a frustrating half.
The second half was a different story, with the visitors coming into the game. A first chance of note for the visitors came from a Jack Burchell corner, taken short in the 53rd minute. The set piece found EFL veteran, Anthony Grant at the edge of the box, who worked space well and fired just wide of Dan Lincoln’s goal.
Welling went close again in the 63rd minute when Jason Adigun found space in the box, unleashing a strong effort which was parried away by Dan Lincoln.
Welling’s pressure eventually was rewarded, breaking the deadlock in the 71st minute. A quick passing move brought the ball wide to Adigun. With space and time to find a pass, he squared the ball to the feet of Reece Grant who fired home through Lincoln’s legs.
The Rebels refused to go out quietly with David Ogbonna’s perseverance winning Scott Davies’ men a penalty kick only five minutes later.
The tricky winger saw a fortunate touch bounce over the head of Cameron Green, with Ogbonna reaching the ball first and being hauled down by the Welling number three. Johnny Goddard stepped up and sent Charles-Cook the wrong way, firing hard and low into the bottom of the net to make it 19 goals for the season and secure top scorer status for the 2023/24 season.
Although both sides pushed for a late winner, neither could find a winning goal. With the spoils shared, the Rebels made it 23 games unbeaten at Arbour Park, leaving the record intact going into next season.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Dan Lincoln
- 2 Josh Jackman
- 5 Dan Bayliss 4
- 6 Jeanmal Prosper
- 8 Matthew Lench
- 9 Nathan Minhas
- 10 Johnny Goddard
- 12 Leon Chambers-Parillon 7
- 14 Scott Davies 3
- 16 Temi Eweka
- 23 David Ogbonna
Substitutes
- 3 Gabriel George 14
- 4 Joe Dandy 5
- 7 Gary Abisogun 12
- 24 Hugo Sobte
- 26 Oliver Spicer
Welling United Lineup
Reice Charles-Cook, Cameron Green, Reece Grant, Anthony Grant (c), David Amoo (TJ Bramble 60), Chiori Johnson (Kayden Williams-Lowe 78), Antony Papadopoulos, Jack Burchell, Jason Adigun, Gene Kennedy, Lachlan Byrd. Unused substitutes: Crossley Lema, Adam Roscrow, Jack Munns.