Ufuah scores first goal as Rebels remain top

Slough Town secured a crucial 1-0 victory over bottom-placed Weymouth at Arbour Park, extending their unbeaten home run to a full year and solidifying their position at the top of National League South.

The match, which saw John Ufuah net his first goal for the club, was a tense affair, with Slough dominating possession but struggling to break down a resolute Weymouth defence.

From the outset, the Rebels were on the front foot, determined to capitalise on their strong home form and start to the season. With Ufuah starting in attack alongside Kweku Lucan and John Gilbert playing behind them, Slough looked to make a fast start, but the opening exchanges were subdued, with neither side creating any clear-cut chances. The visitors, clad in their pink and grey faded strip, sat deep and aimed to frustrate the hosts, who found it difficult to penetrate the Terras’ low block.

The first real scare for Slough came in the 10th minute when Gilbert went down with an off-the-ball issue. Fortunately for the Rebels, Gilbert was able to continue, but the early disruption seemed to unsettle the hosts. Leon Chambers-Parillon, who would go on to be named Man of the Match, was instrumental in keeping Slough on the front foot, but despite his efforts, the final pass was often lacking.

Slough's first meaningful opportunity came in the 16th minute when Gilbert whipped in a dangerous free kick from the right. The delivery skimmed the forehead of Chambers-Parillon, who looked visibly frustrated at not making a stronger connection. As the half wore on, Slough began to impose themselves more, but a lack of precision in the final third meant they were unable to seriously test Weymouth goalkeeper Billy Terrell.

Weymouth, meanwhile, offered little going forward. They were hampered when Malachi Linton was forced off with an injury in the 34th minute, prompting the introduction of former Slough player Francis Amartey. The change, however, did little to alter the pattern of the game, with Slough continuing to press but failing to convert possession into goals.

The Rebels thought they had broken the deadlock in the 41st minute when Ufuah found the back of the net after reacting quickest to a rebound from Ochieng’s strike, only to see the goal ruled out for offside. Moments later, Jeanmal Prosper came close with a header that flashed across the face of the Weymouth goal, but once again, there was no one on hand to apply the finishing touch.

As half-time approached, Slough increased the intensity, camping in the Weymouth half and creating a series of half-chances. Chambers-Parillon and Ochieng continued to drive the team forward, with the former rolling a shot just wide from the edge of the box. The best chance of the half, however, came in stoppage time when Lucan broke free down the right and delivered a pinpoint cross for Dan Bayliss. The defender’s header seemed destined for the net, but Terrell produced a stunning save to keep the scores level at the break.

The second half began much like the first, with Slough on the front foot and Weymouth content to sit deep and absorb pressure. The Rebels continued to probe, with Chambers-Parillon once again at the heart of their best moments. In the 49th minute, he forced an early corner, but the resulting delivery was headed clear by the Weymouth defence.

As the pressure mounted, Slough came close again in the 52nd minute when Bayliss saw his effort deflected just wide following a corner. Ufuah then fizzed a dangerous cross through the penalty area, but it was just out of reach for the onrushing attackers. Slough were camped in the Weymouth half, but despite their dominance, the breakthrough remained elusive.

Manager Scott Davies opted to make a change in the 63rd minute, bringing on David Ogbonna for Gary Abisogun in a bid to freshen up the attack. The substitution had an immediate impact, as just five minutes later, Slough finally broke the deadlock. A long ball from Davies caught the Weymouth defence off guard, allowing Prosper to drag the ball across the box. Ufuah, showing great composure, hesitated momentarily before dispatching the ball into the top of the net, much to the relief of the home crowd.

With the lead secured, Slough continued to push for a second goal, but Weymouth, to their credit, began to show some attacking intent of their own. The visitors, who have now gone five league matches without scoring, started to look a slight threat on the counter-attack, but their efforts were comfortably dealt with by the Slough defence, who looked far more assured compared to recent performances.

As the clock ticked down, Slough managed the game well, with Ogbonna seeing a late shot blocked as they searched for a second goal to kill the game off. In stoppage time, Davies made his final substitution, bringing on Dan Roth to replace Lucan and help see out the closing moments. Despite a few nervy moments, the Rebels held firm to secure a vital three points.

The final whistle was met with celebrations from the home fans, who have now seen their side go 26 matches unbeaten at Arbour Park. The victory keeps Slough top of the table, and while it was far from a vintage performance, the three points were all that mattered. Ufuah’s first goal for the club was the difference on the day, and with Leon Chambers-Parillon putting in a stellar performance in midfield, the Rebels can take confidence into their next fixture at Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday evening.