Slough Town
0
Hemel Hempstead Town
1
White (4)
League
Attendance: 895
Slough Town slipped to their first defeat of the Enterprise National League South season as Hemel Hempstead Town struck inside the opening five minutes and withstood late pressure to take a 1-0 victory from Arbour Park.
The decisive moment came after just four minutes. Samuel Adenola whipped in a cross from the right which found the head of Millar Matthews-Lewis. His effort was pushed onto the crossbar by a magnificent save from Adam Desbois and dropped kindly for Joe White, who was quickest to react and head home into an unguarded net.
That early blow left the Rebels chasing the game, and Hemel almost doubled their advantage two minutes later. A deep free-kick landed at the feet of White, who flashed a shot across goal only to be denied by a sharp low save from Desbois.
Slough tried to steady themselves and push forward, with Tyrique Clarke finding space to drive into the visitors’ box on 14 minutes, but his shot was blocked by a defender. Hemel, though, continued to carry a threat, with Jake Gray cutting inside and testing Desbois before Matthews-Lewis was hauled down by Kiki Oshilaja as he looked to race through on goal. Oshilaja was cautioned, underlining the danger posed by the Tudors’ front line.
Tempers then flared in the 24th minute as a scuffle broke out off the ball, with both Adenola and Clarke shown yellow cards. The contest was becoming a physical battle, with neither side shying away from challenges.
As the half wore on, Slough sought a way back. A free-kick swung into the box caused problems, with Jaiden Drakes-Thomas latching onto the loose ball but seeing his shot blocked. That chance typified the Rebels’ frustrations, with Hemel’s defence proving stubborn and committed. The half-time whistle sounded with the hosts trailing to White’s early goal, despite a spirited finish to the half.
The Rebels began the second half on the front foot. From a set-piece, Peter Ojemen rose highest but was unable to direct his header on target. Just before the hour, Hemel came close to doubling their lead when Gray cut in from the left and unleashed a curling strike which clipped the top of the crossbar.
Scott Davies responded with a triple substitution on 62 minutes, bringing himself on alongside Brian Nelson and new signing Ruben Bartlett-Antwi in a bid to change the dynamic. Almost immediately Slough created their best opportunity of the match. Davies took a quick free-kick to release Johnny Goddard, who lifted a clever effort over Michael Johnson – but the Hemel goalkeeper reacted brilliantly to tip the ball over.
The Rebels pushed forward again soon after, with Myers finally able to run at the defence but dragging his shot wide. Hemel continued to pose a threat on the break and should have sealed the points late on when substitute Sam Wilkinson burst clear one-on-one, but he fired wide of the target.
As the clock ticked down, Slough poured forward. Bartlett-Antwi’s powerful strike was tipped over by Johnson with a minute left of normal time, while substitute Nnaemeka Anyanwu went close deep into stoppage time. The striker fired wide under pressure in the box and was then booked for his protests after falling to the turf.
There was further drama at the start of added time when Hemel substitute Mauro Vilhete was dismissed for a second yellow card, leaving the visitors to see out more than seven minutes of stoppage time with ten men. Despite sustained Rebels pressure, the equaliser would not come and Hemel clung on for the win.
For the Rebels, it was a first defeat of the campaign following the opening day draw at Tonbridge Angels. While Hemel’s early goal proved decisive, there were positives to take from Bartlett-Antwi making his debut and Nelson going close. Slough will look to regroup quickly and find their cutting edge as they seek a first win of the new season, starting at Dorking Wanderers on Tuesday evening.
The decisive moment came after just four minutes. Samuel Adenola whipped in a cross from the right which found the head of Millar Matthews-Lewis. His effort was pushed onto the crossbar by a magnificent save from Adam Desbois and dropped kindly for Joe White, who was quickest to react and head home into an unguarded net.
That early blow left the Rebels chasing the game, and Hemel almost doubled their advantage two minutes later. A deep free-kick landed at the feet of White, who flashed a shot across goal only to be denied by a sharp low save from Desbois.
Slough tried to steady themselves and push forward, with Tyrique Clarke finding space to drive into the visitors’ box on 14 minutes, but his shot was blocked by a defender. Hemel, though, continued to carry a threat, with Jake Gray cutting inside and testing Desbois before Matthews-Lewis was hauled down by Kiki Oshilaja as he looked to race through on goal. Oshilaja was cautioned, underlining the danger posed by the Tudors’ front line.
Tempers then flared in the 24th minute as a scuffle broke out off the ball, with both Adenola and Clarke shown yellow cards. The contest was becoming a physical battle, with neither side shying away from challenges.
As the half wore on, Slough sought a way back. A free-kick swung into the box caused problems, with Jaiden Drakes-Thomas latching onto the loose ball but seeing his shot blocked. That chance typified the Rebels’ frustrations, with Hemel’s defence proving stubborn and committed. The half-time whistle sounded with the hosts trailing to White’s early goal, despite a spirited finish to the half.
The Rebels began the second half on the front foot. From a set-piece, Peter Ojemen rose highest but was unable to direct his header on target. Just before the hour, Hemel came close to doubling their lead when Gray cut in from the left and unleashed a curling strike which clipped the top of the crossbar.
Scott Davies responded with a triple substitution on 62 minutes, bringing himself on alongside Brian Nelson and new signing Ruben Bartlett-Antwi in a bid to change the dynamic. Almost immediately Slough created their best opportunity of the match. Davies took a quick free-kick to release Johnny Goddard, who lifted a clever effort over Michael Johnson – but the Hemel goalkeeper reacted brilliantly to tip the ball over.
The Rebels pushed forward again soon after, with Myers finally able to run at the defence but dragging his shot wide. Hemel continued to pose a threat on the break and should have sealed the points late on when substitute Sam Wilkinson burst clear one-on-one, but he fired wide of the target.
As the clock ticked down, Slough poured forward. Bartlett-Antwi’s powerful strike was tipped over by Johnson with a minute left of normal time, while substitute Nnaemeka Anyanwu went close deep into stoppage time. The striker fired wide under pressure in the box and was then booked for his protests after falling to the turf.
There was further drama at the start of added time when Hemel substitute Mauro Vilhete was dismissed for a second yellow card, leaving the visitors to see out more than seven minutes of stoppage time with ten men. Despite sustained Rebels pressure, the equaliser would not come and Hemel clung on for the win.
For the Rebels, it was a first defeat of the campaign following the opening day draw at Tonbridge Angels. While Hemel’s early goal proved decisive, there were positives to take from Bartlett-Antwi making his debut and Nelson going close. Slough will look to regroup quickly and find their cutting edge as they seek a first win of the new season, starting at Dorking Wanderers on Tuesday evening.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Adam Desbois
- 3 Peter Ojemen 15
- 4 Henry Ochieng
- 5 Kiki Oshilaja 21
- 6 Reiss Greenidge
- 7 Tyrique Clarke 14
- 8 Jaiden Drakes-Thomas 27
- 9 Jordan Greenidge
- 10 Johnny Goddard
- 16 Dan Roth 18
- 23 Jared Myers
Substitutes
- 12 Aaron White
- 14 Scott Davies 7
- 15 Brian Nelson 3
- 18 Nnaemeka Anyanwu 16
- 21 Kit Elliott 5
- 26 Josh Adepoju
- 27 Ruben Bartlett-Antwi 8
Hemel Hempstead Town Lineup
Johnson; Adenola, Ajayi, Bateson, Stanley; Anderson (Achuba 77), Wiltshire (Semakula 90+); White, Gray (Wilkinson 73), Williams (Thompson 73); Matthews-Lewis (Vilhete 81). Subs not used: Dowrich, Deall