Slough Town
0
Wealdstone
2
Friendly
Attendance: 569
Slough Town completed their pre-season programme with a 2-0 defeat to National League side Wealdstone at Arbour Park, although there were plenty of encouraging signs for Alan Julian's side ahead of next weekend's National League South opener.
Against the strongest opposition of the summer, the Rebels matched their higher-level visitors for long periods before two second-half lapses proved decisive.
Wealdstone fashioned the first opportunities of the afternoon. A long goal kick from Baptiste released Luke Norris behind the Slough defence after seven minutes, but the resulting cross found only a trialist whose finish lacked conviction, allowing Josh McNamara to gather comfortably.
The visitors continued to threaten, with the same trialist dragging an effort narrowly wide before McNamara reacted superbly to deny him from point-blank range. Moments later, Norris was again involved, holding the ball up before releasing Newton, whose powerful effort found only the side-netting.
Slough gradually settled into the contest and enjoyed some promising moments of their own. Keenan Quansah stepped confidently out of defence to release Arthur Gregory beyond the Wealdstone back line, although the move was halted by an offside flag.
As the first half wore on, the Rebels grew into the game. With Wealdstone temporarily reduced to ten men while an injured player received treatment, Slough enjoyed their best spell of possession and Johnny Goddard threatened on the counter after good defensive work forced a turnover high up the pitch.
Kyle Smith came closest to breaking the deadlock before the interval when his free-kick rattled the crossbar, but Slough reached half-time on level terms having frustrated their National League opponents.
The breakthrough arrived eight minutes after the restart. Wealdstone patiently built from the back before Olomola burst down the right and delivered a low cross that was turned home first time by a sliding trialist.
Slough thought they had found an immediate response when Ruben Shakpoke finished smartly, only for the assistant referee's flag to cut celebrations short for offside.
Tarik Gidaree and Jaiden Drakes-Thomas were introduced just before the hour, with Louis Walsh, George Vorster, Latrell Humphrey-Ewers, Michael Edegbe and Jurij Neretin all following as Julian continued to build minutes across his squad ahead of the new campaign.
The Rebels continued to search for an equaliser and almost carved out one on the counter when Jared Myers attempted an audacious chip under pressure, but his effort drifted wide.
Instead, Wealdstone wrapped up victory ten minutes from time when Olomola capitalised on a defensive lapse to finish clinically and double the visitors' advantage.
Despite the defeat, assistant manager Donovan Chislett took plenty of encouragement from the performance, particularly the tactical discipline shown against strong opposition.
"I don't think we were good across the 90 minutes, but I thought there were lots of positives," Chislett said. "The first half was probably better because we had more chances, more counter-attacking moments and more entries into the final third.
"But certainly from a tactical point of view, that's the biggest plus today. We treated this as a league game in terms of the analysis, how we set up and looking at their strengths. We worked on that during the week and the boys applied it really well."
Chislett felt the result ultimately hinged on two avoidable moments rather than the overall balance of play.
"It's just a shame we switched off for a couple of moments with the two goals because they're really avoidable. On the whole I thought we were very good today. I was really impressed with our performance."
Although Wealdstone included several trialists, Chislett believes the Rebels gained exactly the examination they were looking for ahead of the new season.
"They might have had a few trialists in there, but the way they play was exactly what we expected. They're a very good outfit and they beat League One opposition earlier in the week, so that tells you everything you need to know.
"It was a very difficult friendly, but a good one. We intentionally wanted higher-level opposition the week before the season starts because we wanted a real test."
He also singled out several players for praise after an impressive defensive display.
"I thought our shape out of possession was exceptional. Kyle Brooks in central midfield was really, really good. Our two wide players did their jobs really well, both centre-backs played exceptionally well and Arthur at left-back deserves special mention. I thought he was excellent."
With pre-season now complete, Chislett believes the squad is physically where it needs to be heading into the opening league fixture.
"The whole point of pre-season is trying to get everyone ready for the first game of the season, not the pre-season friendlies. We feel people are now at that point where they can compete for 90 minutes, and that's a real plus."
He also confirmed that Godlove Oppong's absence from the second half was purely precautionary.
"He was really keen to get on, but with next week in mind we didn't want to risk him at all. He's absolutely fine and he'll be back in full training on Tuesday."
Attention now turns to next Saturday's National League South opener at home to Ebbsfleet United, with preparations beginning in earnest this week.
"We know what Ebbsfleet are about," Chislett added. "They're an excellent football team, they're possession-based and they'll ask you a lot of questions. We know the size of the challenge, and we'll turn our attention to that on Tuesday."
Against the strongest opposition of the summer, the Rebels matched their higher-level visitors for long periods before two second-half lapses proved decisive.
Wealdstone fashioned the first opportunities of the afternoon. A long goal kick from Baptiste released Luke Norris behind the Slough defence after seven minutes, but the resulting cross found only a trialist whose finish lacked conviction, allowing Josh McNamara to gather comfortably.
The visitors continued to threaten, with the same trialist dragging an effort narrowly wide before McNamara reacted superbly to deny him from point-blank range. Moments later, Norris was again involved, holding the ball up before releasing Newton, whose powerful effort found only the side-netting.
Slough gradually settled into the contest and enjoyed some promising moments of their own. Keenan Quansah stepped confidently out of defence to release Arthur Gregory beyond the Wealdstone back line, although the move was halted by an offside flag.
As the first half wore on, the Rebels grew into the game. With Wealdstone temporarily reduced to ten men while an injured player received treatment, Slough enjoyed their best spell of possession and Johnny Goddard threatened on the counter after good defensive work forced a turnover high up the pitch.
Kyle Smith came closest to breaking the deadlock before the interval when his free-kick rattled the crossbar, but Slough reached half-time on level terms having frustrated their National League opponents.
The breakthrough arrived eight minutes after the restart. Wealdstone patiently built from the back before Olomola burst down the right and delivered a low cross that was turned home first time by a sliding trialist.
Slough thought they had found an immediate response when Ruben Shakpoke finished smartly, only for the assistant referee's flag to cut celebrations short for offside.
Tarik Gidaree and Jaiden Drakes-Thomas were introduced just before the hour, with Louis Walsh, George Vorster, Latrell Humphrey-Ewers, Michael Edegbe and Jurij Neretin all following as Julian continued to build minutes across his squad ahead of the new campaign.
The Rebels continued to search for an equaliser and almost carved out one on the counter when Jared Myers attempted an audacious chip under pressure, but his effort drifted wide.
Instead, Wealdstone wrapped up victory ten minutes from time when Olomola capitalised on a defensive lapse to finish clinically and double the visitors' advantage.
Despite the defeat, assistant manager Donovan Chislett took plenty of encouragement from the performance, particularly the tactical discipline shown against strong opposition.
"I don't think we were good across the 90 minutes, but I thought there were lots of positives," Chislett said. "The first half was probably better because we had more chances, more counter-attacking moments and more entries into the final third.
"But certainly from a tactical point of view, that's the biggest plus today. We treated this as a league game in terms of the analysis, how we set up and looking at their strengths. We worked on that during the week and the boys applied it really well."
Chislett felt the result ultimately hinged on two avoidable moments rather than the overall balance of play.
"It's just a shame we switched off for a couple of moments with the two goals because they're really avoidable. On the whole I thought we were very good today. I was really impressed with our performance."
Although Wealdstone included several trialists, Chislett believes the Rebels gained exactly the examination they were looking for ahead of the new season.
"They might have had a few trialists in there, but the way they play was exactly what we expected. They're a very good outfit and they beat League One opposition earlier in the week, so that tells you everything you need to know.
"It was a very difficult friendly, but a good one. We intentionally wanted higher-level opposition the week before the season starts because we wanted a real test."
He also singled out several players for praise after an impressive defensive display.
"I thought our shape out of possession was exceptional. Kyle Brooks in central midfield was really, really good. Our two wide players did their jobs really well, both centre-backs played exceptionally well and Arthur at left-back deserves special mention. I thought he was excellent."
With pre-season now complete, Chislett believes the squad is physically where it needs to be heading into the opening league fixture.
"The whole point of pre-season is trying to get everyone ready for the first game of the season, not the pre-season friendlies. We feel people are now at that point where they can compete for 90 minutes, and that's a real plus."
He also confirmed that Godlove Oppong's absence from the second half was purely precautionary.
"He was really keen to get on, but with next week in mind we didn't want to risk him at all. He's absolutely fine and he'll be back in full training on Tuesday."
Attention now turns to next Saturday's National League South opener at home to Ebbsfleet United, with preparations beginning in earnest this week.
"We know what Ebbsfleet are about," Chislett added. "They're an excellent football team, they're possession-based and they'll ask you a lot of questions. We know the size of the challenge, and we'll turn our attention to that on Tuesday."
Slough Town Line up
Josh McNamara, Michael Edegbe, Tarik Gidaree, Arthur Gregory, Joe Morrison, Keenan Quansah, Latrell Humphrey-Ewers, Brian Nelson, Kyle Brooks, Johnny Goddard, Jared Myers, Luke Holness, George Vorster, Ruben Shakpoke, Louis Walsh, Jurij Neretin, Godlove Oppong, Trialist, Trialist.