Rebels defeated on penalties in FA Trophy

Slough Town were left disappointed on a frustrating afternoon at Arbour Park as they exited the Isuzu FA Trophy on penalties, despite a spirited second-half fightback against an impressive Gloucester City side who sit second in the Southern League Premier South.

Scott Davies made four changes from the team that delivered an 8–0 win at Beaconsfield in midweek, with Kiki Oshilaja, Jaiden Drakes-Thomas, Johnny Goddard, and new loan signing Jacob Borgnis all coming into the starting XI. Borgnis, signed yesterday from Reading, made his first appearance for the club in midfield, showing calmness in possession and an eye for progressive passes throughout.

Slough began positively, creating a succession of half-chances inside the opening 10 minutes. Drakes-Thomas twice threatened with clever movement in behind, while Goddard tested the target early with a low effort dragged narrowly wide. At the other end, Gloucester signalled their danger on the counter, with captain Joe Hanks attempting an ambitious lob from distance and Elis Watts sending a free shot inside the penalty area wide.

The Rebels enjoyed their best spell midway through the first half. Oshilaja’s pressing created an attack that ended with Walker flashing a ball across goal with Makowski just unable to apply the finishing touch. Moments later, a sharp combination between Makowski and Drakes-Thomas opened up space for the winger to curl inches past the bottom corner. Slough’s intensity in the final third was climbing, and Goddard soon threaded a neat pass into the feet of Makowski, whose improvised flick struck goalkeeper Jared Thompson and ricocheted clear.

But despite Slough’s promising approach play, it was the visitors who struck first. Gloucester worked the ball wide on 39 minutes, and when a cross into the box took a deflection, Marcus Day reacted quickest, stooping low to loop a header over Desbois and into the far corner. A handball attempt on the line by Brian Nelson earned the midfielder a booking, but the goal stood. Slough responded strongly before the whistle, Makowski scrambling to force an equaliser during a goalmouth melee, yet the ball somehow stayed out and Gloucester took their lead into the break.

Davies made a change at half time, introducing Ansu Janneh for Nelson, and the impact was swift as he slotted into the midfield alongside Borgnis.

The equaliser arrived on 59 minutes and was fully deserved. A corner into the six-yard box was kept alive by Roth, and Oshilaja rose well to head the ball down into the path of Janneh, who reacted sharply to hammer a right-footed strike beyond Thompson from close range—his second goal in two matches at Arbour Park since joining.

With momentum now firmly behind the home side, Slough pushed for a winner. Walker cut inside and forced Thompson to gather a low effort, before Drakes-Thomas struck the post with a beautifully curled shot from the right side of the area, the goalkeeper beaten. The winger soon tried his luck again, this time firing marginally wide after drifting past his marker.

Gloucester were increasingly reliant on their defensive shape, and Thompson produced the save of the afternoon with 78 minutes played, springing to his right to tip Makowski’s powerful header onto the crossbar. Moments later, Slough came even closer: Borgnis sliced through midfield with an incisive run before threading a perfect through ball to Drakes-Thomas, who lifted the ball against Thompson and watched as the rebound was cleared off the line by defender Dylan Jones.

The visitors continued to carry a threat on the break and sent a late effort over the bar, but Slough looked the more likely side to settle the tie in normal time. Deep into stoppage time, Makowski burst through from halfway but was halted just outside the box, and Drakes-Thomas, collecting the loose ball, rounded Thompson but was forced too wide to find a meaningful finish.

With the score locked at 1-1, penalties decided the tie. Slough went first, but Davies struck the crossbar with a fierce opening attempt. Desbois levelled the contest with a fine save from Watts. However, a miss from Makowski left Slough needing a stop to take the shootout to sudden death. Obieri scored for Gloucester with Walker following suit for Slough, before Ed Williams converted the decisive penalty to send the visitors into the next round with a 4-3 shootout victory.

For Slough, it was a harsh end to a contest they largely controlled in the second half and one in which they created enough chances to win in normal time. Oshilaja delivered an assured performance at the back, while Borgnis impressed on debut and Janneh continued his excellent early impact.

The Rebels will now look to regroup quickly ahead of a return to National League South action. Attention turns immediately to Tuesday night, when Farnborough visit Arbour Park—a key fixture as the team look to build league momentum as winter approaches.