Slough climb to second with hard-fought win

Slough Town continued their impressive start to the National League South season with a resilient 2-1 victory over Hornchurch at Arbour Park on Saturday, a result that sees the Rebels extend their unbeaten home run to an astonishing 25 matches.

In a game that swung back and forth under initially grim weather conditions before ending in sunshine, goals from Scott Davies and Dan Bayliss overturned a second-half deficit, propelling Slough into second place in the early league table.

The match began in heavy drizzle, with Slough buoyed by a resounding 6-1 victory over Enfield Town earlier in the week, a performance that showcased their attacking prowess. Kweku Lucan and Slavi Spasov, who both netted twice in that match, were handed starts again as the Rebels looked to maintain their position in the play-off spots. Meanwhile, Hornchurch – promoted last season – also came into this fixture off the back of a midweek win against St Albans City.

From the outset, the match was finely poised, with both sides probing for an early advantage. Despite the wet conditions, which made the pitch slick and the ball difficult to control, Slough appeared determined to assert their dominance. The first real opportunity of the game fell to Hornchurch’s Angelo Balanta, who steered a shot over the bar after finding some space in the Slough box. The home side responded quickly, and in the 10th minute, Lucan had a half-chance to put Slough ahead, but his header from a Cameron Gilbert cross was well saved by Hornchurch goalkeeper Mason Terry.

As the match progressed, it became clear that both teams were evenly matched in terms of physicality and tactical organisation. Hornchurch’s defence, marshalled by the experienced Nathan Bertram-Cooper, was particularly impressive, with Bertram-Cooper making a crucial sliding tackle to deny Spasov as he was about to pull the trigger inside the box. Spasov, who had been in scintillating form leading up to this match, was a constant threat, but his involvement in the game was cruelly cut short in the 26th minute when he was forced off with an injury, replaced by John Ufuah.

The injury to Spasov seemed to galvanise Hornchurch, who began to grow into the game as the first half wore on. Sean Scannell, operating on the right wing, tested Slough’s goalkeeper Charlie Horlock with a well-struck shot from just inside the area, as the visitors began to create more opportunities. Slough’s early momentum appeared to have been disrupted by Spasov’s departure, and they had to weather a brief storm as Hornchurch pushed for an opener.

Hornchurch came agonisingly close to taking the lead just before half-time, with two chances in quick succession. First, a crucial block from Dan Bayliss denied Liam Nash, who looked certain to score from close range. Then, moments later, Balanta flicked a deft shot against the post, with Horlock well beaten. It was a significant let-off for the home side, who were relieved to hear the half-time whistle with the score still 0-0.

The second half began with Slough looking to regain their earlier control, but it was Hornchurch who struck first. In the 51st minute, the visitors took the lead through Thomas Wraight, who unleashed a thunderous shot from the edge of the area that flew into the top corner, leaving Horlock with no chance. It was a goal of the highest quality, and it seemed to spur Hornchurch on as they sought to press home their advantage.

For the next 15 minutes, Hornchurch were in the ascendancy, and Slough found themselves on the back foot. Scannell, who had been a thorn in Slough’s side all afternoon, nearly doubled the visitors’ lead with a curling effort that whistled just past the post. Nash, too, continued to trouble Slough’s defence, forcing Horlock into a smart save with a powerful left-footed shot from distance. At this point, it looked as though Hornchurch might run away with the game, but Slough’s defence held firm.

Despite being under pressure, Slough began to find their feet again as the hour mark passed. Ufuah, who had come on for the injured Spasov, started to make his presence felt, and in the 69th minute, Slough were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Hornchurch area after Ufuah was brought down. Up stepped Scott Davies, the player-manager, to take the set piece, and he delivered in style. Davies curled a brilliant shot around the wall and past the fingertips of Terry to level the scores at 1-1, much to the delight of the home fans.

The goal revitalised Slough, who suddenly looked the more likely to snatch a winner. Just three minutes after Davies’ equaliser, Slough had a flurry of chances to take the lead. Ufuah did well to beat his marker and play the ball across to Lucan, whose first-time effort was well saved by Terry. Chambers-Parillon then hammered a shot into the side netting as the Rebels piled on the pressure.

Slough’s persistence was finally rewarded in the 77th minute. After Davies’ free kick was deflected behind for a corner, the resulting set piece saw Dan Bayliss rise highest in the box to power a header past Terry, giving Slough a 2-1 lead. It was a dramatic turnaround and a testament to Slough’s resilience, particularly after the tough start to the second half.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Hornchurch tried to muster a response, but Slough’s defence, now full of confidence, stood firm. Bayliss, having already scored what would prove to be the winning goal, almost added a third for Slough with another header, but Terry was equal to it, tipping the ball over the bar.

As the final whistle blew, Slough’s players celebrated with the fans behind the goal, acknowledging the importance of this hard-earned victory. It had been a performance full of character, with Slough showing both the ability to battle through difficult moments and the quality to take their chances when they came.

The win moves Slough into second place in the league, a position that reflects their strong start to the season. Hornchurch, meanwhile, drop to 12th, but they can take some positives from their performance, particularly in the way they controlled parts of the game.

Next up for Slough is a trip to Aveley on Monday afternoon, followed by a home game against Weymouth next Saturday where they will look to make it a full year unbeaten at Arbour Park. With three wins from their opening four matches, the Rebels are in fine form and will be hopeful of continuing their push towards the top of the table.

Image: Eduardo de Castro