Dagenham & Redbridge
0
Slough Town
0
League
Attendance: 1250
Slough Town earned a well-deserved point on their first visit to Dagenham & Redbridge in 25 years, producing a disciplined and increasingly threatening performance to hold one of the form sides in the Enterprise National League South to a goalless draw at The Chigwell Construction Stadium.
The Rebels arrived in east London facing a stern test. Dagenham had won six of their previous nine league fixtures and included former England striker Andy Carroll in their starting XI, while Slough were making their first appearance at the ground since an Isthmian League visit in May 2000. Yet it was Scott Davies’ side who created the clearer chances over the course of the evening and left feeling they could have taken all three points.
Slough started brightly, forcing an early corner inside two minutes as a deflected effort drifted behind. Tyrese Dyce, captaining the side on the night, briefly required treatment after taking a knock but was able to continue as the Rebels settled into a solid early rhythm.
Clear chances were scarce in the opening quarter-hour, though Slough showed intent. On 16 minutes, Brian Nelson intercepted possession high up the pitch and fed Ruben Shakpoke, but the striker blazed his effort well wide when well placed. Moments later came a huge let-off at the other end, as Adam Desbois miskicked outside his area and presented Dylan Stephenson with an opening, only for the Daggers winger’s effort to trickle agonisingly across the face of goal and wide.
The hosts went closest before the interval when Andy Carroll rose powerfully to meet a cross, but Tyrique Clarke reacted superbly to clear the header off the line and preserve parity. Despite the physical presence of Carroll, Slough’s back line stood firm, with Reiss Greenidge and Scott Davies marshalling well.
Injuries disrupted Dagenham just before the break, with both Carroll and Dermi Lusala forced off at half-time. Slough almost capitalised immediately. Deep into stoppage time, Wiktor Makowski and Shakpoke broke clear with acres of space ahead of them, but Kai McKenzie-Lyle produced a strong low save to deny Shakpoke and keep the scores level.
Slough emerged from the interval with renewed momentum. A flurry of early corners pinned the hosts back, ending with Jared Myers dragging a shot wide from the edge of the area. Harvey Walker then surged through the centre and slipped Makowski in to his right, but the angle proved too tight for the striker to convert.
Makowski was again denied on the hour, drawing an excellent save from McKenzie-Lyle after racing on to a well-weighted pass from Desbois. Slough introduced Ansu Janneh for Nelson as the Rebels looked to maintain their intensity.
Dagenham responded with changes of their own and briefly threatened, Desbois producing a sharp save to deny Harvey Broad before Slough struck back. Walker led another incisive break, picking out Shakpoke in the middle, only for a last-ditch interception to deny a tap-in.
Further attacking substitutions followed, with Johnny Goddard and later Tarik Gidaree and Jaiden Drakes-Thomas added to the mix as Slough pushed for a winner. The clearest opening arrived on 86 minutes when Makowski brilliantly twisted past two defenders and rolled a composed effort towards the bottom corner, only for a Dagenham defender to hook the ball off the line at the last possible moment.
The hosts enjoyed a brief late spell of pressure, Dillon De Silva forcing Desbois into a fine fingertip save from range, but Slough finished the contest strongly. Even after Makowski was withdrawn in stoppage time, the Rebels continued to press, though a late free-kick conceded by Clarke was comfortably dealt with as the final whistle sounded.
It finished goalless, but this was a performance full of organisation, resilience and attacking threat from Slough Town against a side in strong form. Attention now turns quickly to Arbour Park, where Dorking Wanderers visit this Saturday.
The Rebels arrived in east London facing a stern test. Dagenham had won six of their previous nine league fixtures and included former England striker Andy Carroll in their starting XI, while Slough were making their first appearance at the ground since an Isthmian League visit in May 2000. Yet it was Scott Davies’ side who created the clearer chances over the course of the evening and left feeling they could have taken all three points.
Slough started brightly, forcing an early corner inside two minutes as a deflected effort drifted behind. Tyrese Dyce, captaining the side on the night, briefly required treatment after taking a knock but was able to continue as the Rebels settled into a solid early rhythm.
Clear chances were scarce in the opening quarter-hour, though Slough showed intent. On 16 minutes, Brian Nelson intercepted possession high up the pitch and fed Ruben Shakpoke, but the striker blazed his effort well wide when well placed. Moments later came a huge let-off at the other end, as Adam Desbois miskicked outside his area and presented Dylan Stephenson with an opening, only for the Daggers winger’s effort to trickle agonisingly across the face of goal and wide.
The hosts went closest before the interval when Andy Carroll rose powerfully to meet a cross, but Tyrique Clarke reacted superbly to clear the header off the line and preserve parity. Despite the physical presence of Carroll, Slough’s back line stood firm, with Reiss Greenidge and Scott Davies marshalling well.
Injuries disrupted Dagenham just before the break, with both Carroll and Dermi Lusala forced off at half-time. Slough almost capitalised immediately. Deep into stoppage time, Wiktor Makowski and Shakpoke broke clear with acres of space ahead of them, but Kai McKenzie-Lyle produced a strong low save to deny Shakpoke and keep the scores level.
Slough emerged from the interval with renewed momentum. A flurry of early corners pinned the hosts back, ending with Jared Myers dragging a shot wide from the edge of the area. Harvey Walker then surged through the centre and slipped Makowski in to his right, but the angle proved too tight for the striker to convert.
Makowski was again denied on the hour, drawing an excellent save from McKenzie-Lyle after racing on to a well-weighted pass from Desbois. Slough introduced Ansu Janneh for Nelson as the Rebels looked to maintain their intensity.
Dagenham responded with changes of their own and briefly threatened, Desbois producing a sharp save to deny Harvey Broad before Slough struck back. Walker led another incisive break, picking out Shakpoke in the middle, only for a last-ditch interception to deny a tap-in.
Further attacking substitutions followed, with Johnny Goddard and later Tarik Gidaree and Jaiden Drakes-Thomas added to the mix as Slough pushed for a winner. The clearest opening arrived on 86 minutes when Makowski brilliantly twisted past two defenders and rolled a composed effort towards the bottom corner, only for a Dagenham defender to hook the ball off the line at the last possible moment.
The hosts enjoyed a brief late spell of pressure, Dillon De Silva forcing Desbois into a fine fingertip save from range, but Slough finished the contest strongly. Even after Makowski was withdrawn in stoppage time, the Rebels continued to press, though a late free-kick conceded by Clarke was comfortably dealt with as the final whistle sounded.
It finished goalless, but this was a performance full of organisation, resilience and attacking threat from Slough Town against a side in strong form. Attention now turns quickly to Arbour Park, where Dorking Wanderers visit this Saturday.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Adam Desbois
- 6 Reiss Greenidge
- 7 Tyrique Clarke
- 11 Wiktor Makowski 29
- 14 Scott Davies
- 15 Brian Nelson 28
- 17 Tyrese Dyce
- 23 Jared Myers 2
- 24 Ruben Shakpoke 10
- 25 Harvey Walker 8
- 27 Basil Tuma
Substitutes
- 2 Tarik Gidaree 23
- 8 Jaiden Drakes-Thomas 25
- 10 Johnny Goddard 24
- 13 Carl Dennison
- 26 Josh Adepoju
- 28 Ansu Janneh 15
- 29 Luke Holness 11
Dagenham & Redbridge Lineup
Kai McKenzie-Lyle, Dermi Lusala (Harvey Broad 45), Christian Maghoma, Sam Graham, Corey Panter, Andy Carroll (Dillon De Silva 45), Joe Haigh, Dylan Stephenson (Rafiq Khaleel 89), Harry Sidwell (George Marsh 63), Conor Lawless, Timothee Dieng (c). Unused substitutes: Ben Nightingale, Trent Rendall, Kayden Harrack