Rebels drawn away to the Geordies in FA Trophy clash
Slough Town have been drawn away to in-form Southern Premier Division side, Hanwell Town, in the second round of the FA Trophy.
For once, the Rebels have avoided a tie against league rivals at this stage of the competition, but a trip to Hanwell – a club originally formed by natives of Newcastle and whose nickname remains the Geordies – will be far from straight forward.
Hanwell are flying high in the Southern Premier Division and overcame Dunstable 1-0 on Saturday to put their name in the hat for the second round.
They sit fifth in their division, just inside the play-offs, and gave Slough’s league rivals Ebbsfleet an almighty scare in a 2-1 home defeat in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.
Reflecting on the draw, joint manager Jon Underwood tweeted: “Nice to be playing a different side for a change and a local one for our fans.
“Hanwell are having a good season and pushed Ebbsfleet close in the FA Cup, so it won’t be easy.”
The winners of the tie on Saturday, November 19, will receive £3,750 from the FA’s prize fund, with the losing side receiving £1,000. Elsewhere in the draw, Bracknell Town have been drawn away to Tonbridge Angels.
Slough will be hoping to carry some form into the tie having finally stopped the rot of league defeats with a determined 2-2 draw at sixth-placed Worthing on Saturday.
Co-manager Neil Baker said afterwards the result was fair as he felt the Rebels could have nicked the win, but also could have lost the match. Goals from Scott Davies, with another fantastic free-kick, and Josh Jackman had put the visitors 2-1 ahead midway through the second half, but Daniel Bowry’s header from Moe Shubbar’s corner levelled matters in the 75th minute and both sides had chances late on to win it. The result ended a run of four successive defeats in the league and should give the side confidence heading into Saturday’s home game with St Albans City at Arbour Park. They sit 15th in the table, seven points off the play-offs but only four points above the relegation zone.