Late turnaround sinks Rebels despite Roth opener

Slough Town suffered a late 2-1 defeat at Ebbsfleet United, as the hosts struck twice in the final 15 minutes to overturn Dan Roth’s second-half opener at Stonebridge Road.

The Rebels, again stretched by injuries and absences, delivered a disciplined and determined performance for long periods and looked set to claim a valuable result before a late rally from the play-off chasing hosts turned the game on its head.

There was a debut for on-loan striker Jaiden Celestine-Charles, signed from Millwall just 24 hours earlier, while Michael Edegbe continued in goal with Alfie Marriott sidelined. Slough also named a youthful bench, including 16-year-old Patrick Koroma, as the squad continued to be tested.

The opening stages were relatively even, with Ebbsfleet seeing the first effort on goal when Ben Chapman’s strike was parried away by Edegbe. The hosts looked to utilise width, with Josh Passley particularly influential down the right, delivering a number of dangerous balls into the area.

Slough, however, remained organised and looked to threaten on the counter. Harvey Walker was central to their attacking intent, driving forward on several occasions and forcing Matt Hall into a save from distance, while Tyrese Dyce also tested the goalkeeper from range.

Clear-cut chances were limited, though both sides had moments of promise. Ebbsfleet went close through Tom Dallison, who nearly turned home a whipped delivery, while Dominic Samuel and Gene Kennedy were both unable to convert from dangerous positions during a lively spell before the interval.

Slough’s best opportunity of the first half arrived five minutes before the break when Celestine-Charles showed good composure to slip Luke Holness through on goal, but the striker saw his effort crucially blocked as he attempted to take the ball around the goalkeeper.

The hosts ended the half strongly, hitting the post from a set-piece before firing over from close range, but the sides went into the interval level with Slough having largely contained Ebbsfleet’s attacking threat.

The Rebels made a bright start to the second half and were rewarded almost immediately. After Walker had forced a save from Hall, the resulting pressure saw Roth step forward and strike from the edge of the box, his effort taking a significant deflection to wrong-foot the goalkeeper and find the net.

It was a deserved reward for Slough’s resilience and gave them something to protect as Ebbsfleet pushed for a response.

The home side increased the tempo and began to apply sustained pressure, though Slough continued to defend resolutely. Chances came and went for Ebbsfleet, with Marcus Wyllie firing over from a promising position and Samuel unable to make clean contact inside the area.

As the game entered its final quarter, Slough were forced into a change with Balu Makumbi unable to continue, replaced by John Clarke, while the hosts introduced fresh attacking options in search of a breakthrough.

That moment arrived on 75 minutes when Ebbsfleet were awarded a penalty after Lennon Peake was brought down in the area. Kiki Oshilaja was cautioned for the challenge, and Kwesi Appiah stepped up to convert from the spot, sending Edegbe the wrong way to level the scores.

With momentum now firmly with the hosts, Slough were forced deeper, though they continued to battle and had moments of composure in possession, including some neat play from debutant Celestine-Charles before his withdrawal late on.

Edegbe was called into action again to deny Appiah from distance, reacting quickly to parry the initial effort and prevent a rebound from Wyllie finding the net.

However, the decisive moment came four minutes from time. A corner caused problems in the Slough penalty area, and after an initial header was not cleared, the ball fell kindly for substitute Josh Coley at the back post, who reacted quickest to fire home from close range.

Slough pushed forward in search of a late equaliser, introducing fresh legs including young Koroma for his involvement in the closing stages, but clear opportunities were limited.

There was still time for further drama as Edegbe produced an excellent one-on-one save to keep the deficit at one, while tensions rose deep into stoppage time.

Oshilaja was shown a second yellow card and dismissed after handling the ball in added time, compounding a difficult end to the afternoon for the Rebels.

Despite nine minutes of additional time, Slough were unable to find a way back, and the hosts held on to secure all three points.

It was a frustrating outcome for the Rebels, who had executed their game plan effectively for much of the contest but were undone late on by a side pushing for the play-offs.

Attention now turns to a big local derby on Good Friday, as Slough host Maidenhead United at Arbour Park.