Rebels defeated at Optima Stadium

Slough Town suffered a difficult evening on the Somerset coast as league leaders Weston-super-Mare ran out 5-1 winners at the Optima Stadium, with Jaiden Drakes-Thomas’ first-half strike proving only a consolation for a youthful Rebels side who battled through another injury-hit outing.

Manager Scott Davies was once again forced to make numerous changes with eight senior players unavailable through injury or illness. Bryce Gough, a product of the club’s Elite Development Squad, was handed his full debut at right-back, while fellow EDS player Wyatt Marin came on for his senior debut in the second half. With Davies unwell, the visitors’ starting XI again contained a mixture of first-team regulars and academy graduates, demonstrating the squad’s stretched resources in a challenging run of fixtures.

Weston, buoyed by an excellent start to the season and aiming to reclaim top spot in the table, began strongly and immediately pushed the Rebels back. Adam Desbois was called into early action, pushing away a strike from James Waite before the home side appealed for a penalty from the resulting corner.

The pressure told in the 13th minute when a clever ball in behind picked out the run of Jacob Jagger Cane. The full-back reached the byline and cut the ball back for Louis Britton, whose first effort was blocked by Desbois but rebounded kindly for the striker to bundle home from close range.

Slough had barely threatened before that moment, but they responded superbly and found a leveller just six minutes later. There appeared to be little danger when a long ball forward caused confusion in the Weston defence, but Wiktor Makowski battled to win possession and forced the ball into the path of Jaiden Drakes-Thomas, who struck a crisp first-time effort from the edge of the box into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.

That goal briefly lifted the Rebels, and moments later Johnny Goddard stretched to meet a cross and clipped the post as Slough came close to turning the game on its head. Instead, Weston struck again within minutes to regain control. A hanging corner from Scott Coulson was met by captain Emlyn Lewis, whose downward header bounced into the corner past Desbois.

Slough continued to create half chances, with Goddard crossing for Makowski to head wide, but the hosts always looked dangerous and extended their lead on 36 minutes. Coulson was again the creator, gliding past two defenders on the left and playing a sublime pass into the path of Sam Pearson, who guided a first-time volley beyond Desbois with the outside of his boot.

The Seagulls struck the woodwork twice before the break through Pearson, who caused constant problems for the Slough back line with his pace and movement.

Scott Davies made a double change at half-time, introducing Aaron White and Nnaemeka Anyanwu for Brian Nelson and Jared Myers, but the second period started disastrously for the visitors. Within two minutes of the restart, Weston grabbed a fourth as Jagger Cane curled a superb strike into the top corner after the ball broke kindly to him inside the box.

Things went from bad to worse on 57 minutes when Harvey Walker, who had been booked earlier, was shown a second yellow card for simulation — a decision that appeared extremely harsh and left Slough to play the final half-hour with ten men.

To their credit, the Rebels continued to show spirit and came close to narrowing the deficit through Drakes-Thomas, who thundered a stunning long-range effort against the underside of the crossbar. Makowski also went close with a left-footed shot from distance before making way for debutant Wyatt Marin, while Goddard was replaced by Josh Adepoju.

Just as Slough began to settle with their new shape, Weston struck again to make it 5-1. A misplaced pass in midfield was punished ruthlessly as Waite drove forward and released Pearson, who this time made no mistake with a precise finish into the far corner to complete his brace.

Despite the scoreline, Slough continued to show determination and effort in the closing stages. Drakes-Thomas saw a late free-kick hit the side netting, and Dan Roth glanced a header narrowly wide after meeting a deep cross. At the other end, Desbois produced several smart saves to deny substitute Hicks and Britton as the hosts looked to add further gloss to the scoreline.

The final whistle brought an end to a punishing evening for the Rebels, who finished with ten men and were left to reflect on the fine margins that again went against them. Weston’s quality in the final third ultimately proved decisive, while Slough could take encouragement from the continued commitment of their young players and the performances of debutants Gough and Marin in difficult circumstances.

As the Rebels prepare to return to Arbour Park, attention will quickly turn to the weekend’s match against Maidstone United, with Slough looking to respond to this setback.