Slough Town
2
Oshilaja (30), Makowski (60)
Eastbourne Borough
1
Alexander (15)
League
Attendance: 933
Kiki Oshilaja
Slough Town made it three league wins in a row with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Eastbourne Borough at Arbour Park, producing another resilient display to continue their climb away from the foot of the National League South.
The visitors, who arrived in 22nd place, began the contest with real intent and were on the front foot throughout the opening exchanges. Eastbourne’s early pressure was evident, with Kai Corbett causing problems and delivering a dangerous cross inside four minutes that Archy Taylor glanced just wide of the far post. A succession of corners followed, including one short routine that saw Arthur Grout whip a teasing ball into the box for Maxwell Mullins, whose header drifted wide with Adam Desbois beaten.
Slough’s first meaningful moment arrived on six minutes when Jared Myers broke beyond his marker and slipped Wiktor Makowski through on goal, but Woody Williamson reacted sharply to rush from his line and deny the forward. Eastbourne, however, continued to dictate the early tempo and came close again when Mullins’ low drive was gathered by Desbois at the second attempt after high pressing forced a turnover in midfield.
That pressure told on 15 minutes when the visitors deservedly opened the scoring. Craig Eastmond drove forward from midfield and combined neatly with George Alexander on the edge of the area before cutting the ball back across goal, allowing Alexander to side-foot a composed first-time finish beyond Desbois.
Slough gradually began to settle after falling behind, finding more joy out wide and delivering a couple of promising balls into the box without testing Williamson. Eastbourne remained a threat, though, with Corbett teeing up Josh Anifowose for a first-time strike from distance that drew another smart low save from Desbois.
The Rebels’ response arrived on the half-hour, once again through defender Kiki Oshilaja, who is enjoying a rich vein of form. A corner was partially cleared to Tyrique Clarke, who returned the ball into the danger area. Oshilaja showed excellent technique, cushioning the ball down with his back to goal before swivelling and firing an expert finish into the right-hand corner to make it three goals in three matches.
The remainder of the first half was played at a high tempo. Both sides were competitive in midfield, with Jacob Borgnis and Oshilaja entering the referee’s book, while Slough thought they had taken the lead shortly before the interval when the ball ended up in the net from a corner. The goal was disallowed, however, as Tyrese Dyce was adjudged to have handled the ball and was shown a yellow card. Myers went close moments later, his shot deflecting off the face of Williamson, but the sides went into the break level.
Eastbourne again threatened early in the second half, and Desbois produced what proved to be a pivotal moment on 51 minutes. After a long throw was only partially cleared, Freddie Carter chipped a ball into the six-yard box for Alexander, whose powerful header looked destined for the net until the Slough goalkeeper dived superbly to his right to keep it out.
That save appeared to galvanise the home side. Slough began to gain control, with Makowski and Shakpoke linking well in attack. On 59 minutes, Makowski drove into the box from the left and cut the ball back perfectly for Shakpoke, whose low effort curled agonisingly wide of the post.
A minute later, Slough made their pressure count. Myers timed a perfectly weighted through ball between the Eastbourne centre-backs, allowing Makowski to race through on goal. The forward showed great composure, driving a powerful low finish into the bottom corner to put the Rebels ahead.
With the lead established, Slough looked increasingly confident. A series of corners followed as they searched for a third goal, while Eastbourne were restricted largely to half-chances and set pieces. When the visitors did break through, they were repeatedly denied by Desbois. His finest moment after the break came on 73 minutes when Grout’s ball dropped invitingly for Mullins inside the box, only for the Slough keeper to produce another excellent close-range save.
Slough continued to pose a threat on the counter, with Makowski driving the length of the pitch late on before seeing an effort punched away and the follow-up deflected behind. Eastbourne pushed in the closing stages, but the Rebels defended with discipline and game management, seeing out the contest.
The final whistle confirmed another crucial victory for Scott Davies’ side, extending their winning run to three matches and lifting Slough up to 16th in the table. Goals from Oshilaja and Makowski overturned Eastbourne’s early lead and capped a performance built on resilience, clinical finishing and an outstanding display from Adam Desbois between the posts.
The visitors, who arrived in 22nd place, began the contest with real intent and were on the front foot throughout the opening exchanges. Eastbourne’s early pressure was evident, with Kai Corbett causing problems and delivering a dangerous cross inside four minutes that Archy Taylor glanced just wide of the far post. A succession of corners followed, including one short routine that saw Arthur Grout whip a teasing ball into the box for Maxwell Mullins, whose header drifted wide with Adam Desbois beaten.
Slough’s first meaningful moment arrived on six minutes when Jared Myers broke beyond his marker and slipped Wiktor Makowski through on goal, but Woody Williamson reacted sharply to rush from his line and deny the forward. Eastbourne, however, continued to dictate the early tempo and came close again when Mullins’ low drive was gathered by Desbois at the second attempt after high pressing forced a turnover in midfield.
That pressure told on 15 minutes when the visitors deservedly opened the scoring. Craig Eastmond drove forward from midfield and combined neatly with George Alexander on the edge of the area before cutting the ball back across goal, allowing Alexander to side-foot a composed first-time finish beyond Desbois.
Slough gradually began to settle after falling behind, finding more joy out wide and delivering a couple of promising balls into the box without testing Williamson. Eastbourne remained a threat, though, with Corbett teeing up Josh Anifowose for a first-time strike from distance that drew another smart low save from Desbois.
The Rebels’ response arrived on the half-hour, once again through defender Kiki Oshilaja, who is enjoying a rich vein of form. A corner was partially cleared to Tyrique Clarke, who returned the ball into the danger area. Oshilaja showed excellent technique, cushioning the ball down with his back to goal before swivelling and firing an expert finish into the right-hand corner to make it three goals in three matches.
The remainder of the first half was played at a high tempo. Both sides were competitive in midfield, with Jacob Borgnis and Oshilaja entering the referee’s book, while Slough thought they had taken the lead shortly before the interval when the ball ended up in the net from a corner. The goal was disallowed, however, as Tyrese Dyce was adjudged to have handled the ball and was shown a yellow card. Myers went close moments later, his shot deflecting off the face of Williamson, but the sides went into the break level.
Eastbourne again threatened early in the second half, and Desbois produced what proved to be a pivotal moment on 51 minutes. After a long throw was only partially cleared, Freddie Carter chipped a ball into the six-yard box for Alexander, whose powerful header looked destined for the net until the Slough goalkeeper dived superbly to his right to keep it out.
That save appeared to galvanise the home side. Slough began to gain control, with Makowski and Shakpoke linking well in attack. On 59 minutes, Makowski drove into the box from the left and cut the ball back perfectly for Shakpoke, whose low effort curled agonisingly wide of the post.
A minute later, Slough made their pressure count. Myers timed a perfectly weighted through ball between the Eastbourne centre-backs, allowing Makowski to race through on goal. The forward showed great composure, driving a powerful low finish into the bottom corner to put the Rebels ahead.
With the lead established, Slough looked increasingly confident. A series of corners followed as they searched for a third goal, while Eastbourne were restricted largely to half-chances and set pieces. When the visitors did break through, they were repeatedly denied by Desbois. His finest moment after the break came on 73 minutes when Grout’s ball dropped invitingly for Mullins inside the box, only for the Slough keeper to produce another excellent close-range save.
Slough continued to pose a threat on the counter, with Makowski driving the length of the pitch late on before seeing an effort punched away and the follow-up deflected behind. Eastbourne pushed in the closing stages, but the Rebels defended with discipline and game management, seeing out the contest.
The final whistle confirmed another crucial victory for Scott Davies’ side, extending their winning run to three matches and lifting Slough up to 16th in the table. Goals from Oshilaja and Makowski overturned Eastbourne’s early lead and capped a performance built on resilience, clinical finishing and an outstanding display from Adam Desbois between the posts.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Adam Desbois
- 2 Tarik Gidaree 16
- 5 Kiki Oshilaja
- 7 Tyrique Clarke
- 11 Wiktor Makowski
- 14 Scott Davies
- 17 Tyrese Dyce
- 22 Jacob Borgnis
- 23 Jared Myers 8
- 24 Ruben Shakpoke
- 25 Harvey Walker
Substitutes
- 3 Peter Ojemen
- 8 Jaiden Drakes-Thomas 23
- 10 Johnny Goddard
- 16 Dan Roth 2
- 26 Josh Adepoju
- 28 Ansu Janneh
- 29 Luke Holness
Eastbourne Borough Lineup
Woody Williamson; Freddie Carter (Will Harley 88), Harry Phipps, Tayt Trusty; Archy Taylor, Arthur Grout, Craig Eastmond, Kai Corbett (Mathaeus Roberts 72), Josh Anifowose (Jayden Davis 72); Maxwell Mullins, George Alexander. Subs not used: Jamie Searle, Laiith Fairnie, Tarik Kadric, Harvey Lintott.