Hemel 1 v Slough 1

Match report by Allan Mitchell, Photos by Sean Walsh

Hemel Hempstead Town 1 (Brown 93) Slough Town 1 Togwell 27)

The Tudors and the Rebels always have close contests and this one really went to the wire with Slough feeling really hard done by, conceding an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

The visitors just edged a tight first period and they scored with the first chance for either side when Lee Togwell was left unmarked at the back post from a corner in the 27th minute. It was a disappointing goal to concede and was the sort of defensive lapse that the Tudors had made a habit of during the early part of the season, so Manager Brad Quinton was none too pleased to see it happening again.

Hemel had a couple of chances themselves but Will Dennis made two decent saves to deny George Williams, whose effort from the edge of the box lacked any real power and then Montel McKenzie who had cut into the box before driving his shot in. Dennis parried the ball and got lucky as it just ran behind Reece Grant as he raced in.

George Alexander and then Togwell brought the best out of Craig King up the other end as the game opened up. Scott Davies then fired in an effort just before the break that tested King again, the Tudors in form keeper saving well on the stretch.

HT Hemel 0 Slough 1

Hemel spurned a great opportunity in the 53rd minute when Reece Grant managed to get onto the end of a long ball, he rounded the keeper and fired towards the empty net but Temi Eweka got across and handled the ball. He received a straight red card for his sins.

Grant stepped up and took the resulting penalty but it lacked power and Dennis saved easily to let Slough off the hook.

The Rebels decided to keep things tight after this and were camped in their own half for much of the remainder of the second half. Hemel huffed and puffed as the clock ticked down but Dennis and some decent defending kept them at bay and it looked as though the Tudors poor record against ten men was going to be realised again.

The home side kept knocking on the door and their efforts were finally rewarded when they equalised in stoppage time after a great ball in from Josh Williams had caused some confusion in the six yard box, Slough just didn’t deal with it and it fell to the feet of Bayley Brown who slotted it home from six yards to break Slough’s brave resistance.

Hemel: 5-3-2 King; McKenzie, J. Williams, Hill, Roberts (Mukendi 71), O’Connor-Ajayi, G.Williams, Morgan-Griffiths, Castiglionne (Brown 84) Grant, Hughes (Holness 71) Subs not used: Bright, Westbrook.