MATCH REPORT | SLOUGH TOWN 3 DARTFORD 2

Saturday’s victory was quickly forgotten, as Dartford fell to a sixth defeat in seven after Slough Town took advantage of their opponent’s defensive woes on a cold night in Berkshire.

The 659 supporters had barely found their seats inside Arbour Park, when the hosts took an early lead! Nathan Minhas was the player to score from close-range, after the Dartford defence failed to deal with a long throw (1).

However, five minutes later saw the visitors level with a superb solo effort from young starlet Olly Box. As Scott Davies slipped while under pressure, Box was clear and racing along the left-flank. He then cut inside, before sending a delightful curling drive into the bottom corner (6).

For all their efforts though, the Darts fell behind once again after Fumnaya Shomotun fouled David Ogbonna inside his own area. The referee, Mr Nathan Oakes, pointed to the spot, and Johnny Goddard found the bottom corner, despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Billy Terrell (18).

The Darts regrouped and pulled themselves back into the game by another fine strike by Box in the 29^th minute. This time, the youngster smashed home from inside the box, after getting on the end of Maxwell Statham’s delicious cross.

The game was end-to-end at this point, as both sides searched to take the advantage. Hugo Sobte pulled off a brilliant save to keep Jack Smith’s strike from flying in (40), before Billy Terrell saved Scott Davies’ low free-kick (42).

However, The Rebels still weren’t satisfied and when a cross from their right-flank missed everyone in the 44^th minute, David Ogbonna was free in space to send a thunderous drive into the top corner!

The second forty-five was similar to the first, except for a lack of clinical finishing by both sides.

First Josh Jackman fired over Billy Terrell’s crossbar (49), before Fumnaya Shomotun fired narrowly wide at the other end (52). This was then followed by a terrific double save by Terrell… The first was the better of the two, as the goalkeeper got down to send a low drive behind. He then was in the right place at the right time to save Temi Eweka’s header from the resulting corner (54)!

Then it was Hugo Sobte’s turn… and what a top save it was as well! Luke Coulson’s free-kick found Joash Nembhard, who sent his 63^rd minute header towards the top corner, only to see Sobte somehow tip the ball behind for a corner!

The game became more of a battle from then on, with little in the way of goalscoring opportunities. Tony Burman was the first to make a substitution, as he swapped Jordan Wynter with Taylor Maloney in the 75^th minute. That would be followed by Alex Wall replacing Fumnaya Shomotun (85), before Jack Smith left the field to be replaced by Manny Adebowale late on.

Meanwhile, The Rebels went on to swap Slavi Spasov with Leon Chambers-Parillon (81), Christie Ward with Eze Ebuzoeme (90), and David Ogbonna with Ollie Spicer (90+3).

Unfortunately, any hope of rescuing a point disappeared in the 87^th minute when Joash Nembhard was given a straight red card for pulling back Nathan Minhas when the Slough man was clean through. With Nembhard being the last man back, Mr Oakes was left with no choice but to give the Dartford defender his marching orders.

With two of the bottom four teams both winning this evening, this wasn’t the result the Darts would have wanted. However, there is still plenty of points to fight for and, with Olly Box in fine form… three goals in two league starts… it’s all in our own hands.

TEAMS

SLOUGH TOWN: Hugo Sobte, Josh Jackman (c), Dan Bayliss, Matt Lench, Nathan Minhas, Johnny Goddard, Christie Ward, Scott Davies, Temi Eweka, David Ogbonna, Slavi Spasov.

SUBSTITUTES: Joe Dandy, Leon Chambers-Parillon, Jefferson Louis, Eze Ebuzoeme, Ollie Spicer.

DARTFORD: Billy Terrell, Jordan Wynter, Jack Smith, Luke Coulson (c), Maxwell Statham, Elliott Romain, Fumnaya Shomotun, Joash Nembhard, Olly Box, Tom Clifford, Paul Rooney.

SUBSTITUTES: Alex Wall, Manny Adebowale, George Whitefield, Taylor Maloney, Reece Hobbs.

Match Photos Gallery

Chris Palmer

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