Quansah strikes late to earn Rebels a point

Slough Town came from behind to secure a point against unbeaten Ebbsfleet United at Arbour Park, with Keenan Quansah’s 82nd-minute equaliser rewarding an improved second-half performance from the Rebels.

The rearranged National League South fixture was originally due to be Slough’s opening match of the season, before the original meeting was postponed following the National League’s decision to suspend Ebbsfleet.

With the Rebels looking to respond to Saturday’s home defeat against Hemel Hempstead Town, five changes were made to the starting line-up, with new signing Dennis Adeniran named among the substitutes.

The opening stages were relatively quiet, although Slough were forced to defend a number of promising Ebbsfleet attacks.

Latrell Humphrey-Ewers was booked in the 15th minute before the visitors created the first clear opportunities. Gene Kennedy curled an effort narrowly wide from the edge of the box, while Kwesi Appiah then sent a close-range effort over the bar after a low ball had been delivered across the six-yard area.

Lennon Peake also found space to run at the Slough defence and, after breaking into the box, elected to square the ball across goal rather than shoot. Fortunately for the Rebels, nobody was able to get on the end of it.

Slough gradually found more possession and had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down when Luke Holness appeared to be held by an Ebbsfleet defender inside the area.

Johnny Goddard was booked shortly afterwards, while a promising counter involving Kyrie Pierre and Holness broke down as Slough attempted to exploit space behind the visitors.

Ebbsfleet continued to pose the greater attacking threat before half time. Appiah was presented with another opportunity six yards from goal but could not keep his header on target, leaving the sides level at the break.

The visitors started the second half positively and went ahead in the 52nd minute.

Peake delivered from the left and Daniel Ogunleye found space to attack the cross, diving to head the ball beyond Stevie Bausor and give Ebbsfleet the lead.

Slough responded by making a double change three minutes later, with Adeniran and Jared Myers introduced for Brian Nelson and Kyrie Pierre.

The Rebels struggled to create a clear opening in the immediate aftermath of going behind, with a low ball from Saikou Janneh into the box comfortably claimed by Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Will Buse.

Ebbsfleet made their first change in the 66th minute, with Josh Passley replacing Ben Chapman, before Slough made another alteration as Godlove Oppong came on for Holness.

Josh Adepoju was then introduced for Balu Makumbi in the 71st minute as Slough continued to search for a way back into the contest.

That equaliser finally arrived ten minutes later.

Goddard delivered a deep cross into the Ebbsfleet penalty area, where Joe Morrison rose to head the ball back across goal. Quansah was on hand to turn it home and bring Slough level.

The goal gave the Rebels renewed momentum and, after Ebbsfleet had an opportunity to respond through Toby Edser, whose effort went narrowly wide, Slough made their final change with Arthur Gregory replacing Humphrey-Ewers in the 86th minute.

There was still work to do defensively in the closing stages. Bausor produced an important save in the 89th minute to prevent a looping header from dropping over him, while six minutes of added time were signalled.

Appiah headed over in the third minute of stoppage time as Ebbsfleet looked for a late winner, but Slough held firm to secure a 1-1 draw.

It was a much-improved response from the Rebels, who showed greater resilience and defensive resolve after falling behind.

Speaking after the match, interim joint manager Ryan Case praised the reaction from his players, saying: “We showed a resiliency and a mentality that maybe at times we haven't shown this year.”

Case also felt the performance demonstrated the qualities he had demanded from the squad following Saturday’s defeat.

“For me tonight, that's a proper Slough Town performance,” he said. “We were front-footed, we were aggressive, we were good in our duels. We played forward, we ran forward.”

The manager was particularly pleased with Quansah, who had endured a difficult afternoon against Hemel Hempstead before returning to help secure Tuesday’s point.

“I’m really pleased for Keenan,” Case added. “Tough game Saturday against a good striker and came back today, showed a lot of character and personality to go and get the equaliser.”

New signing Adeniran also made his Slough debut from the bench, with Case pleased to have added the experienced midfielder to his squad.

“He’s a great acquisition for us,” Case said. “He gives us an older head, a senior head in a very important part of the pitch that we’ve maybe lacked this season.”

The point moves Slough onto four points for the season, with the Rebels now facing a two-week break before returning to National League South action away at Torquay United on Saturday 10 October.