Late Drakes-Thomas goal earns win at Hornchurch

Slough Town produced a thrilling late victory away at promotion-chasing Hornchurch as Jaiden Drakes-Thomas struck in the final minute to seal a remarkable 3-2 win in Essex.

In a pulsating contest that swung dramatically throughout, first-half goals from Ruben Shakpoke and Wiktor Makowski gave the Rebels a commanding lead before second-half strikes from Henry Hearn and Darren McQueen brought the hosts level. Just as Hornchurch looked the more likely winners, Drakes-Thomas delivered the decisive moment to secure another memorable away victory for Scott Davies’ side.

The result maintains Hornchurch’s position in second place, though they remain five points behind leaders Dorking Wanderers after the table-toppers were beaten elsewhere. Slough stay 15th but continue to create distance from the bottom half of the table, now five points clear of 16th place Tonbridge Angels and a huge 17 points above the final relegation place – while sitting just nine points off the final play-off spot.

Slough travelled to Essex with a depleted squad once again. Tarik Gidaree missed out through illness while several others remained sidelined through injury, meaning three EDS players were named on the bench alongside new loan signing John Clarke, a 21-year-old left-back who joined from Reading the previous day. There was, however, a welcome return for Ruben Shakpoke following the injury he sustained against Dover.

Scott Davies made four changes to the side that had secured an impressive win at Bath City in midweek, bringing Shakpoke, Tyrique Clarke, Jaiden Drakes-Thomas and Balu Makumbi into the starting lineup.

Hornchurch, who began the afternoon second in the National League South table, started brightly and forced an early corner inside the opening minute. However, the Rebels quickly showed their attacking intent as Shakpoke and Makowski began linking up dangerously around the edge of the area.

The game was played at a relentless pace from the outset. Zabeli picked up an early booking after a heavy challenge on five minutes, while both sides began to test each other with crosses and quick transitions.

Slough struck first on 13 minutes. Harvey Walker burst into the penalty area after skipping past his marker and was brought down by Giles Phillips, leaving the referee with little option but to point to the spot. Shakpoke stepped up confidently and, although goalkeeper Arthur Nasta got a hand to the effort, the penalty clipped the underside of the crossbar before bouncing over the line.

Hornchurch were forced into an early change shortly afterwards when Dave Winfield went down injured and was replaced by Nathan Bertram-Cooper.

The hosts responded with a spell of pressure, but Slough defended resolutely. Zabeli produced two crucial headed clearances as the Urchins began to deliver crosses towards Dominic Poleon and Darren McQueen.

At the other end, Slough continued to threaten. Shakpoke cleverly cushioned a pass into the path of Drakes-Thomas whose strike from the edge of the area forced a save from Nasta, while Makowski later had the ball in the net only for the assistant’s flag to rule the effort out for offside.

The contest remained breathless as the first half drew to a close, with both sides creating openings. Then, in stoppage time, Slough doubled their advantage.

A long ball forward caught the Hornchurch defence stretched and Makowski raced clear. Showing excellent composure, the striker rounded Nasta before calmly finishing into the empty net for his 19th goal of the season to give the Rebels a two-goal cushion at the interval.

Hornchurch made a change at half-time, introducing Henry Hearn, and the substitute would soon make his presence felt.

The home side began the second half with renewed urgency, sending crosses into the Slough penalty area and testing the defensive organisation of Oshilaja and Makumbi. Their pressure told on 54 minutes when a Weston delivery was headed on by Bertram-Cooper into the path of Hearn, who produced an instinctive backheel finish beyond Alfie Marriott.

With momentum shifting, Slough responded by making a double substitution on 56 minutes as Brian Nelson and Luke Holness replaced Shakpoke and Walker.

Holness nearly made an immediate impact, firing just wide from distance, while Makowski came agonisingly close to restoring the two-goal advantage shortly afterwards. After Marriott quickly released Zabeli with a throw, the defender’s pass sent Makowski racing through on goal again, but this time his clever lob clipped the crossbar.

The game continued to swing dramatically. Hornchurch missed a huge opportunity when Hearn somehow fired over the bar from close range after the Slough defence failed to clear a cross across the six-yard box.

Davies then handed a debut to new signing John Clarke just after the hour mark, replacing Dan Roth as the Rebels looked to reinforce their defence.

Despite Slough’s efforts, Hornchurch eventually found an equaliser on 79 minutes. Charlie Pegrum cut in from the right and fired a shot towards goal that caused chaos inside the six-yard area. The loose ball fell to McQueen, who reacted quickest to turn home and level the scores.

The home side sensed victory and continued to press, forcing Slough deep inside their own half. An effort that rippled the side netting briefly fooled sections of the crowd into thinking Hornchurch had completed the turnaround.

But just as the hosts pushed forward again in the closing minutes, Slough struck decisively.

With Hornchurch committing players forward, Brian Nelson made a superb interception to halt a dangerous counterattack before immediately releasing Makowski with a perfectly weighted pass in behind the defence. The striker chased the ball down and, despite being stretched, managed to toe-poke it across the face of goal where Drakes-Thomas arrived unmarked to finish from close range in the 90th minute.

The late strike sparked jubilant celebrations from the travelling Slough players and supporters.

There were still nervy moments during five minutes of stoppage time as Hornchurch continued to push forward, with McQueen dragging one effort wide and Marriott comfortably gathering a late Weston strike.

But when the final whistle sounded, it confirmed another outstanding away victory for the Rebels – their second in a week – in one of the most dramatic matches of the season.

Slough now return to Arbour Park on Tuesday evening where they host 19th-placed Hampton & Richmond Borough, hoping to build further momentum after a result that once again demonstrated the resilience and character of a squad continuing to battle through an injury-hit period.