Bedfont Sports Club
1
Davison (18)
Slough Town
2
Adepoju (42, 62)
FA Cup
Slough Town showed real grit and determination to book their place in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying, overcoming adversity to defeat Bedfont Sports 2-1 away from home despite playing over an hour with ten men.
The Rebels had to do it the hard way at Hatton Road. Trailing early and then reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Adam Desbois was shown a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity, Slough dug deep and turned the tie around thanks to two well-taken goals from Josh Adepoju – his first for the club.
Manager Scott Davies made three changes to his starting line-up, with Balu Makumbi and Jaiden Drakes-Thomas coming into the side, while new signing Bernie Tanner, arriving on a short-term dual registration from Uxbridge, slotted into defence. There was also a place on the bench for Elite Development Squad goalkeeper Henry Upstell, who would be called upon much earlier than expected.
The Isthmian League South Central hosts made the brighter start in terms of end product. Inside seven minutes, Desbois was called into action to get down low and stop a first-time strike from distance. Soon after, Jack Flatman also tested the Slough keeper, who parried his effort away to safety.
Despite Slough enjoying the lion’s share of possession, it was Bedfont who struck first. A set-piece was not dealt with, and Ollie Davison pounced to tap in from close range, giving the Eagles a shock 18th-minute lead.
The Rebels’ problems deepened on 25 minutes when Desbois was dismissed. Rushing out to meet a through ball, the keeper was adjudged to have fouled outside his area and deny a goalscoring chance. With no substitute keeper in the starting XI, it was left to teenager Henry Upstell to make his senior debut as Drakes-Thomas made way.
Despite these setbacks, Slough continued to dictate possession, albeit struggling to find a cutting edge against a deep-lying Bedfont defence. But persistence was rewarded just before the interval. A precise ball from Scott Davies floated over the back line, and Adepoju bravely beat the onrushing keeper to it, sending his header bobbling over the line to level the tie on 42 minutes.
That goal gave the Rebels belief, and the second half began in the same vein, with Adepoju turning provider for Wiktor Makowski, whose strike from distance drifted just over the bar. Bedfont looked dangerous on the break, with Flatman heading goalwards before being denied comfortably by Upstell, but gradually Slough’s extra quality began to tell.
On 62 minutes, the tie swung decisively. A slick passing move through the centre of the pitch cut Bedfont open, and Adepoju produced a composed finish, clipping the ball across the keeper and in off the post. It was his second of the afternoon and a moment of real composure under pressure.
Bedfont, roared on by their home supporters, tried to respond and went close with a header from Tommy O’Neill that sailed just over the bar. Substitute Eduard Vionea also tested Upstell with a volley which the young keeper dealt with confidently. But with Slough showing strong defensive organisation and a threat on the counter through Goddard and Makowski, the visitors always looked capable of managing the game.
Davies used his bench to good effect, introducing Brian Nelson to add fresh legs in midfield, followed by Tarik Gidaree and Ruben Bartlett-Antwi late on to see out the tie. The only blot came in added time, when Gidaree was shown a yellow card, but by then the Rebels had done enough.
There was still time for a scare deep into stoppage time, as Tristian Andrews’ late strike was scrambled away from the goalmouth, but the final whistle sparked celebrations among the travelling Slough supporters.
It was far from a perfect performance, but one full of spirit and resilience. Adepoju’s brace marked his first goals for the club and could prove to be a turning point for the young forward, while Upstell earned plaudits for a composed debut under challenging circumstances. The introduction of Tanner also added to the sense of squad depth being tested and utilised.
The result ensures Slough’s name will be in the hat for Monday’s draw for the Fourth Round Qualifying, the final stage before the National League clubs enter the competition. Having already negotiated tricky ties against Welling United and now Bedfont Sports, Davies and his side will take great encouragement into what promises to be another stern test.
The Rebels had to do it the hard way at Hatton Road. Trailing early and then reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Adam Desbois was shown a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity, Slough dug deep and turned the tie around thanks to two well-taken goals from Josh Adepoju – his first for the club.
Manager Scott Davies made three changes to his starting line-up, with Balu Makumbi and Jaiden Drakes-Thomas coming into the side, while new signing Bernie Tanner, arriving on a short-term dual registration from Uxbridge, slotted into defence. There was also a place on the bench for Elite Development Squad goalkeeper Henry Upstell, who would be called upon much earlier than expected.
The Isthmian League South Central hosts made the brighter start in terms of end product. Inside seven minutes, Desbois was called into action to get down low and stop a first-time strike from distance. Soon after, Jack Flatman also tested the Slough keeper, who parried his effort away to safety.
Despite Slough enjoying the lion’s share of possession, it was Bedfont who struck first. A set-piece was not dealt with, and Ollie Davison pounced to tap in from close range, giving the Eagles a shock 18th-minute lead.
The Rebels’ problems deepened on 25 minutes when Desbois was dismissed. Rushing out to meet a through ball, the keeper was adjudged to have fouled outside his area and deny a goalscoring chance. With no substitute keeper in the starting XI, it was left to teenager Henry Upstell to make his senior debut as Drakes-Thomas made way.
Despite these setbacks, Slough continued to dictate possession, albeit struggling to find a cutting edge against a deep-lying Bedfont defence. But persistence was rewarded just before the interval. A precise ball from Scott Davies floated over the back line, and Adepoju bravely beat the onrushing keeper to it, sending his header bobbling over the line to level the tie on 42 minutes.
That goal gave the Rebels belief, and the second half began in the same vein, with Adepoju turning provider for Wiktor Makowski, whose strike from distance drifted just over the bar. Bedfont looked dangerous on the break, with Flatman heading goalwards before being denied comfortably by Upstell, but gradually Slough’s extra quality began to tell.
On 62 minutes, the tie swung decisively. A slick passing move through the centre of the pitch cut Bedfont open, and Adepoju produced a composed finish, clipping the ball across the keeper and in off the post. It was his second of the afternoon and a moment of real composure under pressure.
Bedfont, roared on by their home supporters, tried to respond and went close with a header from Tommy O’Neill that sailed just over the bar. Substitute Eduard Vionea also tested Upstell with a volley which the young keeper dealt with confidently. But with Slough showing strong defensive organisation and a threat on the counter through Goddard and Makowski, the visitors always looked capable of managing the game.
Davies used his bench to good effect, introducing Brian Nelson to add fresh legs in midfield, followed by Tarik Gidaree and Ruben Bartlett-Antwi late on to see out the tie. The only blot came in added time, when Gidaree was shown a yellow card, but by then the Rebels had done enough.
There was still time for a scare deep into stoppage time, as Tristian Andrews’ late strike was scrambled away from the goalmouth, but the final whistle sparked celebrations among the travelling Slough supporters.
It was far from a perfect performance, but one full of spirit and resilience. Adepoju’s brace marked his first goals for the club and could prove to be a turning point for the young forward, while Upstell earned plaudits for a composed debut under challenging circumstances. The introduction of Tanner also added to the sense of squad depth being tested and utilised.
The result ensures Slough’s name will be in the hat for Monday’s draw for the Fourth Round Qualifying, the final stage before the National League clubs enter the competition. Having already negotiated tricky ties against Welling United and now Bedfont Sports, Davies and his side will take great encouragement into what promises to be another stern test.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Adam Desbois
- 4 Henry Ochieng
- 7 Tyrique Clarke 15
- 8 Jaiden Drakes-Thomas 13
- 10 Johnny Goddard
- 11 Wiktor Makowski 19
- 14 Scott Davies
- 16 Dan Roth
- 20 Balu Makumbi
- 25 Bernie Tanner
- 26 Josh Adepoju 2
Substitutes
- 2 Tarik Gidaree 26
- 12 Aaron White
- 13 Henry Upstell 8
- 15 Brian Nelson 7
- 18 Nnaemeka Anyanwu
- 19 Ruben Bartlett-Antwi 11
- 27 Kian Berry
Bedfont Sports Club Lineup
Lewis Everett, Tommy O’Neill, Josh Eatwell, Max Webb, Ollie Davison, Joe Smith, Jake Woods (Eduard Vionea 78), George Frise (c), Jamie Fuller, Jude Jakes-McKay (Adam Dougui 64), Lewis Flatman (Tyler Robinson 64). Subs not used: Tristian Andrews, Oliver Murphew, Max Davidson, Kingston White-Glean.