Welling United
1
Paxman (pen 90+4)
Slough Town
1
Ojemen (45+2)
FA Cup
Attendance: 476
Slough Town were minutes away from booking their place in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round Qualifying, only to be pegged back by a stoppage-time penalty as Welling United salvaged a replay at Park View Road.
The tie always promised to be a hard-fought battle, with Slough making five changes from the side that lost at Torquay last weekend. Into the starting line-up came Tarik Gidaree, Tyrese Dyce, Brian Nelson, Jaiden Drakes-Thomas and Josh Adepoju, while EDS goalkeeper Henry Upstell earned a first senior call-up to the bench. Their hosts, who announced the loan signing of Zac Hambury from Leyton Orient before kick-off, named him among the substitutes.
The opening quarter of an hour was played at a frantic pace, with both sides scrapping for control of midfield. Welling went closest when skipper Jack Paxman forced Adam Desbois into a save from distance, and moments later Scott Simmons’ clever backheel in the box drew another stop from the Rebels’ goalkeeper. At the other end, Slough found space down the left through Dyce before his afternoon was cut short by injury, with Dan Roth sent on after just 23 minutes.
The Wings enjoyed the better of the first half openings, and were inches from a breakthrough when Ruben Shakpoke’s angled drive beat Desbois but rebounded off the post. Yet it was Slough who struck first, deep into first-half stoppage time. Johnny Goddard’s free-kick delivery caused confusion in the Welling defence, and Peter Ojemen reacted quickest to turn the ball in from close range, sending the Rebels into half time with a slender advantage.
The second half opened in similar fashion, with few clear chances as the game became increasingly physical. Adepoju dispossessed a defender and fired over from a good position, while at the other end Shakpoke broke free one-on-one but was denied by a superb block from Desbois.
Both managers looked to their benches as the half wore on. Ruben Bartlett-Antwi replaced Drakes-Thomas to freshen Slough’s front line, while Henry Ochieng and later Kian Berry also came on. For Welling, Hambury made his debut and former Rebel John Ufuah offered pace and drive from midfield.
With time running out, Slough looked to be holding firm. Ojemen also went into the book for a robust challenge, while Adepoju and Bartlett-Antwi picked up cautions as the Rebels dug deep to preserve their narrow lead.
But in the fourth minute of stoppage time, disaster struck. Hambury drove into the penalty area and was bundled over by Roth, leaving the referee with little choice but to point to the spot. Roth was booked for the foul, and Paxman stepped up to calmly send Desbois the wrong way, levelling the tie at 1-1.
There was still time for further drama, with Desbois denying Ufuah twice in quick succession before the referee’s whistle brought the contest to a close.
The result means both sides will enter the Third Round Qualifying draw on Monday, but it will take a replay at Arbour Park on Tuesday evening to decide who progresses. Slough will reflect on a frustrating conclusion after defending resolutely for long spells despite so many players being unavailable through injury, while Welling will take heart from their late reprieve and the opportunity to finish the job away from home.
The tie always promised to be a hard-fought battle, with Slough making five changes from the side that lost at Torquay last weekend. Into the starting line-up came Tarik Gidaree, Tyrese Dyce, Brian Nelson, Jaiden Drakes-Thomas and Josh Adepoju, while EDS goalkeeper Henry Upstell earned a first senior call-up to the bench. Their hosts, who announced the loan signing of Zac Hambury from Leyton Orient before kick-off, named him among the substitutes.
The opening quarter of an hour was played at a frantic pace, with both sides scrapping for control of midfield. Welling went closest when skipper Jack Paxman forced Adam Desbois into a save from distance, and moments later Scott Simmons’ clever backheel in the box drew another stop from the Rebels’ goalkeeper. At the other end, Slough found space down the left through Dyce before his afternoon was cut short by injury, with Dan Roth sent on after just 23 minutes.
The Wings enjoyed the better of the first half openings, and were inches from a breakthrough when Ruben Shakpoke’s angled drive beat Desbois but rebounded off the post. Yet it was Slough who struck first, deep into first-half stoppage time. Johnny Goddard’s free-kick delivery caused confusion in the Welling defence, and Peter Ojemen reacted quickest to turn the ball in from close range, sending the Rebels into half time with a slender advantage.
The second half opened in similar fashion, with few clear chances as the game became increasingly physical. Adepoju dispossessed a defender and fired over from a good position, while at the other end Shakpoke broke free one-on-one but was denied by a superb block from Desbois.
Both managers looked to their benches as the half wore on. Ruben Bartlett-Antwi replaced Drakes-Thomas to freshen Slough’s front line, while Henry Ochieng and later Kian Berry also came on. For Welling, Hambury made his debut and former Rebel John Ufuah offered pace and drive from midfield.
With time running out, Slough looked to be holding firm. Ojemen also went into the book for a robust challenge, while Adepoju and Bartlett-Antwi picked up cautions as the Rebels dug deep to preserve their narrow lead.
But in the fourth minute of stoppage time, disaster struck. Hambury drove into the penalty area and was bundled over by Roth, leaving the referee with little choice but to point to the spot. Roth was booked for the foul, and Paxman stepped up to calmly send Desbois the wrong way, levelling the tie at 1-1.
There was still time for further drama, with Desbois denying Ufuah twice in quick succession before the referee’s whistle brought the contest to a close.
The result means both sides will enter the Third Round Qualifying draw on Monday, but it will take a replay at Arbour Park on Tuesday evening to decide who progresses. Slough will reflect on a frustrating conclusion after defending resolutely for long spells despite so many players being unavailable through injury, while Welling will take heart from their late reprieve and the opportunity to finish the job away from home.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Adam Desbois
- 2 Tarik Gidaree
- 3 Peter Ojemen
- 7 Tyrique Clarke
- 8 Jaiden Drakes-Thomas 19
- 10 Johnny Goddard
- 11 Wiktor Makowski
- 14 Scott Davies
- 15 Brian Nelson 4
- 17 Tyrese Dyce 16
- 26 Josh Adepoju 27
Substitutes
- 4 Henry Ochieng 15
- 13 Henry Upstell
- 16 Dan Roth 17
- 18 Nnaemeka Anyanwu
- 19 Ruben Bartlett-Antwi 8
- 23 Jared Myers
- 27 Kian Berry 26
Welling United Lineup
Freddie Norman, Cory Adjetey-Brew, Scott Simmons (Christian Scott 81), Tom Leahy (Zac Hambury 60), Eze Ebuzoeme (Jack Leahy 81), Greg Cundle (John Ufuah 60), Logan Dobbs, Aaron Williams-Bushell, Ruben Shakpoke, Jack Paxman (c), Bright Siaw (James Dyer 88). Sub not used: George Holley