Stones roll back to end Slough’s unbeaten run
Hemel Hempstead Town 1, Slough Town 1
Slough Town stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches in the National League South as Dan Roberts’ equaliser earned them a 1-1 draw at Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday.
The Rebels went into the clash looking to build on their fantastic 2-1 win over league leaders Wealdstone FC on Boxing Day, but weren’t able to find the same intensity on this short trip around the M25.
Joint manager Neil Baker admitted fortune was on their side in the first half when goalkeeper Jack Turner looked to have brought down Niko Muir outside the Rebels’ area in the 13th minute.
The Rebels’ management team expected the referee to brandish a red card but on this occasion he showed leniency and instead showed Turner a yellow.
Hemel deservedly took the lead in the 30th minute when Sam Ashford made the most of the space he was afforded to curl the ball beyond Turner.
However, the Rebels pegged their hosts back just before the break when Roberts stole in front of Hemel keeper Sam Beasant to glance home Josh Jackman’s right-wing cross.
Wealdstone FC 2, Slough Town 1
Joint manager Neil Baker had few complaints as the Rebels kicked off the new decade with a 2-1 defeat to the league leaders on New Year’s Day (Wednesday).
A win for the Rebels would have seen them cut the gap on Wealdstone to just three points but, instead, the Stones claimed revenge for their Boxing Day setback at Arbour Park.
In many ways the two games mirrored each other, with the home side racing into a two-goal lead on both occasions before the visitors hit back late on.
On this occasion it was Slough’s striker-turnedcentre half Ryan Bird who grabbed a goal back in the 81st minute through a towering header but first-half goals from Michee Efete and Ross Lafayette gave the Stones a measure of control throughout.
Efete put the Stones ahead after only two minutes before Lafayette made it 2-0 on the halfhour, slightly against the run of play.
The result sees Slough drop back to fifth in the National League South table ahead of tomorrow’s (Saturday) home game with Eastbourne Borough.