Slough Town
1
Shakpoke (52)
Weston-super-Mare
0
League
Attendance: 562
Slough Town extended their impressive run of form to three consecutive victories with a hard-fought 1-0 win over promotion-chasing Weston-super-Mare at Arbour Park, as Ruben Shakpoke’s second-half header proved decisive on a damp Berkshire evening.
The Rebels arrived full of confidence following Saturday’s comeback win at Maidstone United — their sixth victory in eight league matches — but faced a stern test against visitors who began the night fifth in the National League South table. Weston, however, came into the fixture without a win in three games and they found a well-organised Slough side difficult to break down.
Scott Davies’ side made two changes from the weekend success, with Dan Roth and Tyrique Clarke coming into the starting XI. Early chances were limited as both teams adapted to the slick surface, though Charlie Cummins tested Adam Desbois with a clean half-volley from distance that the goalkeeper gathered comfortably. The visitors threatened again when Luke Spokes’ effort deflected wide and Emlyn Lewis headed over from the resulting corner.
Slough gradually grew into the contest and began to create openings. Basil Tuma burst forward and found Jared Myers, with the loose ball returning to Tuma whose shot was scuffed, before Myers swept a dangerous cross into the six-yard area that Clarke could not quite turn goalwards.
The key moment of the first half arrived on 38 minutes when substitute Jason Pope pulled Myers down inside the penalty area. Wiktor Makowski stepped up but Max Harris dived low to his right to save the penalty. Slough responded well to the disappointment and sustained pressure with a succession of corners, yet the game remained goalless at the break.
There was an enforced change at half-time as Tuma, feeling a tight hamstring, was replaced by Ruben Shakpoke, and moments later Slough were forced into another alteration when Myers could not continue, Harvey Walker coming on.
The substitutions proved decisive. Seven minutes after the restart Jaiden Drakes-Thomas delivered a pinpoint corner and Shakpoke rose superbly inside the six-yard box to power a header beyond Harris and give Slough the lead.
Weston responded immediately, Bennett firing over and Scott Wilson diverting a Cummins cross wide, while Slough were denied a second penalty when Shakpoke went down under a challenge. Desbois then produced an excellent save to keep out Pope’s driven effort and the Rebels survived a goalmouth scramble following a corner.
Walker’s pace provided an outlet on the counter-attack but the closing stages were dominated by sustained Weston pressure. Cross after cross was delivered into the box, Louis Britton heading straight at Desbois and another effort looping onto the roof of the net. Appeals for penalties were waved away as the visitors pushed forward deep into stoppage time.
Slough defended resolutely, Oshilaja and Davies marshalling the back line while Desbois commanded his area confidently. The visitors’ final opportunity saw Will Dawes volley wide in added time before the full-time whistle confirmed another important victory.
The result lifts Slough from 16th to 14th in the National League South table while Weston slip to sixth, underlining the Rebels’ growing momentum and defensive resilience as they continue to climb away from trouble.
The Rebels arrived full of confidence following Saturday’s comeback win at Maidstone United — their sixth victory in eight league matches — but faced a stern test against visitors who began the night fifth in the National League South table. Weston, however, came into the fixture without a win in three games and they found a well-organised Slough side difficult to break down.
Scott Davies’ side made two changes from the weekend success, with Dan Roth and Tyrique Clarke coming into the starting XI. Early chances were limited as both teams adapted to the slick surface, though Charlie Cummins tested Adam Desbois with a clean half-volley from distance that the goalkeeper gathered comfortably. The visitors threatened again when Luke Spokes’ effort deflected wide and Emlyn Lewis headed over from the resulting corner.
Slough gradually grew into the contest and began to create openings. Basil Tuma burst forward and found Jared Myers, with the loose ball returning to Tuma whose shot was scuffed, before Myers swept a dangerous cross into the six-yard area that Clarke could not quite turn goalwards.
The key moment of the first half arrived on 38 minutes when substitute Jason Pope pulled Myers down inside the penalty area. Wiktor Makowski stepped up but Max Harris dived low to his right to save the penalty. Slough responded well to the disappointment and sustained pressure with a succession of corners, yet the game remained goalless at the break.
There was an enforced change at half-time as Tuma, feeling a tight hamstring, was replaced by Ruben Shakpoke, and moments later Slough were forced into another alteration when Myers could not continue, Harvey Walker coming on.
The substitutions proved decisive. Seven minutes after the restart Jaiden Drakes-Thomas delivered a pinpoint corner and Shakpoke rose superbly inside the six-yard box to power a header beyond Harris and give Slough the lead.
Weston responded immediately, Bennett firing over and Scott Wilson diverting a Cummins cross wide, while Slough were denied a second penalty when Shakpoke went down under a challenge. Desbois then produced an excellent save to keep out Pope’s driven effort and the Rebels survived a goalmouth scramble following a corner.
Walker’s pace provided an outlet on the counter-attack but the closing stages were dominated by sustained Weston pressure. Cross after cross was delivered into the box, Louis Britton heading straight at Desbois and another effort looping onto the roof of the net. Appeals for penalties were waved away as the visitors pushed forward deep into stoppage time.
Slough defended resolutely, Oshilaja and Davies marshalling the back line while Desbois commanded his area confidently. The visitors’ final opportunity saw Will Dawes volley wide in added time before the full-time whistle confirmed another important victory.
The result lifts Slough from 16th to 14th in the National League South table while Weston slip to sixth, underlining the Rebels’ growing momentum and defensive resilience as they continue to climb away from trouble.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Adam Desbois
- 5 Kiki Oshilaja
- 7 Tyrique Clarke 15
- 8 Jaiden Drakes-Thomas 10
- 11 Wiktor Makowski 20
- 14 Scott Davies
- 16 Dan Roth
- 17 Tyrese Dyce
- 22 Jacob Borgnis
- 23 Jared Myers 25
- 30 Basil Tuma 24
Substitutes
- 2 Tarik Gidaree
- 10 Johnny Goddard 8
- 15 Brian Nelson 7
- 18 Nnaemeka Anyanwu
- 20 Balu Makumbi 11
- 24 Ruben Shakpoke 30
- 25 Harvey Walker 23
Weston-super-Mare Lineup
Max Harris; Michael Smith (Dom Bernard 90+1), Dan Ellison, Luke Coulson, Louis Britton; Scott Wilson (Ollie Dewsbury 61), Scot Bennett (Will Dawes 70), Emlyn Lewis, Luke Spokes, Charlie Cummins; Dan Martin (Jason Pope 29). Subs not used: Jakob Glover, Sam Avery.