Slough Town
0
Hemel Hempstead Town
2
Angol (45+3), Chigozie (49)
League
Attendance: 923
Slough Town suffered a defeat to Hemel Hempstead Town at Arbour Park, with debutants Lee Angol and Christian Chigozie scoring either side of half time to give the Tudors all three points.
The Rebels were looking to build on their first National League South victory of the season at AFC Totton two weeks earlier, but found themselves behind in first-half stoppage time before Hemel doubled their advantage shortly after the restart.
Slough handed a debut to new signing Saikou Janneh, who provided some of the brighter moments in the opening half, particularly with his ability to beat his man and deliver from the right. However, Hemel created the first clear opportunity when Lee Angol headed narrowly over from around six yards.
Stevie Bausor then produced an important low save to his near post to deny George Williams, while Stefan Parkes fired over from distance for the visitors.
Slough were forced into an early change when Ruben Shakpoke was unable to continue after 12 minutes, with Godlove Oppong introduced. This was yet another frustrating injury blow for the Rebels, with Jordan Thomas having pulled out of the warm-up to be replaced by Balu Makumbi in the starting lineup.
Janneh continued to look lively and won a corner after another run down the right, but Hemel dealt with the resulting delivery. At the other end, Bausor remained alert as the visitors looked to threaten.
There was a minimum of six minutes added time at the end of the first half and Hemel took advantage of it.
Jake Tabor's work created an opportunity for Angol inside the Slough area and the experienced striker, making his debut for the Tudors after joining earlier in the week, tapped home from close range to put the visitors in front amid appeals for offside from the hosts.
Slough went into the interval trailing 1-0 and were dealt another blow just four minutes into the second half.
With the ball bobbling around the Slough penalty area, Chigozie got a shot away which took a deflection and flew beyond Bausor. The defender, also making his Hemel debut, had scored his first goal for the club to make it 2-0.
The Rebels attempted to respond, with Keenan Quansah finding himself in front of goal after a defensive error, but Michael Johnson was able to make the save.
Hemel continued to pose a threat from set pieces, with Williams delivering a free-kick into the area which almost found Chigozie, but the goalscorer was unable to get the required touch.
Slough introduced Jared Myers and Luke Holness as they looked for a route back into the match, and Holness came close to making an impact when a shot appeared destined for goal before Chigozie made an important last-ditch block.
Holness then looked to run through on goal, but Hemel's defence recovered quickly and Johnson gathered the ball.
The visitors were able to see out the closing stages and secure a second consecutive league victory, while Slough were left to reflect on another disappointing afternoon at Arbour Park.
Speaking after the match, Goddard gave a frank assessment of the performance.
“Yeah, miles off it. Miles off it. Not good enough,” he said. “Not what this club represents or deserves. Not what the supporters deserve.”
The player-manager also acknowledged that the Rebels must improve, adding: “We need to do better. So, we've tried to be positive.”
There was praise for Janneh, however, after an encouraging debut from the new signing. Goddard said: “He's a great signing. He's played at a really good level... I thought he played really well.”
With Ebbsfleet United visiting Arbour Park on Tuesday evening, Goddard insisted the squad must respond quickly.
“It's a new start, you know, a fresh 90 minutes that we go and try and win the game,” he said.
The Rebels now turn their attention to Tuesday's 7.45pm kick-off against Ebbsfleet United. The club's 50% ticket offer remains available for the fixture, with supporters able to use code STFC50 when purchasing tickets online.
The Rebels were looking to build on their first National League South victory of the season at AFC Totton two weeks earlier, but found themselves behind in first-half stoppage time before Hemel doubled their advantage shortly after the restart.
Slough handed a debut to new signing Saikou Janneh, who provided some of the brighter moments in the opening half, particularly with his ability to beat his man and deliver from the right. However, Hemel created the first clear opportunity when Lee Angol headed narrowly over from around six yards.
Stevie Bausor then produced an important low save to his near post to deny George Williams, while Stefan Parkes fired over from distance for the visitors.
Slough were forced into an early change when Ruben Shakpoke was unable to continue after 12 minutes, with Godlove Oppong introduced. This was yet another frustrating injury blow for the Rebels, with Jordan Thomas having pulled out of the warm-up to be replaced by Balu Makumbi in the starting lineup.
Janneh continued to look lively and won a corner after another run down the right, but Hemel dealt with the resulting delivery. At the other end, Bausor remained alert as the visitors looked to threaten.
There was a minimum of six minutes added time at the end of the first half and Hemel took advantage of it.
Jake Tabor's work created an opportunity for Angol inside the Slough area and the experienced striker, making his debut for the Tudors after joining earlier in the week, tapped home from close range to put the visitors in front amid appeals for offside from the hosts.
Slough went into the interval trailing 1-0 and were dealt another blow just four minutes into the second half.
With the ball bobbling around the Slough penalty area, Chigozie got a shot away which took a deflection and flew beyond Bausor. The defender, also making his Hemel debut, had scored his first goal for the club to make it 2-0.
The Rebels attempted to respond, with Keenan Quansah finding himself in front of goal after a defensive error, but Michael Johnson was able to make the save.
Hemel continued to pose a threat from set pieces, with Williams delivering a free-kick into the area which almost found Chigozie, but the goalscorer was unable to get the required touch.
Slough introduced Jared Myers and Luke Holness as they looked for a route back into the match, and Holness came close to making an impact when a shot appeared destined for goal before Chigozie made an important last-ditch block.
Holness then looked to run through on goal, but Hemel's defence recovered quickly and Johnson gathered the ball.
The visitors were able to see out the closing stages and secure a second consecutive league victory, while Slough were left to reflect on another disappointing afternoon at Arbour Park.
Speaking after the match, Goddard gave a frank assessment of the performance.
“Yeah, miles off it. Miles off it. Not good enough,” he said. “Not what this club represents or deserves. Not what the supporters deserve.”
The player-manager also acknowledged that the Rebels must improve, adding: “We need to do better. So, we've tried to be positive.”
There was praise for Janneh, however, after an encouraging debut from the new signing. Goddard said: “He's a great signing. He's played at a really good level... I thought he played really well.”
With Ebbsfleet United visiting Arbour Park on Tuesday evening, Goddard insisted the squad must respond quickly.
“It's a new start, you know, a fresh 90 minutes that we go and try and win the game,” he said.
The Rebels now turn their attention to Tuesday's 7.45pm kick-off against Ebbsfleet United. The club's 50% ticket offer remains available for the fixture, with supporters able to use code STFC50 when purchasing tickets online.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Stevie Bausor
- 3 Arthur Gregory
- 5 Joe Morrison
- 6 Shay Spencer
- 8 Kyle Brooks
- 9 Ruben Shakpoke
- 10 Johnny Goddard
- 14 Keenan Quansah
- 20 Balu Makumbi
- 21 Jaiden Drakes-Thomas
- 26 Saikou Janneh
Substitutes
- 2 Chris Francis
- 7 Jared Myers 10
- 11 Luke Holness 21
- 18 Kyrie Pierre 26
- 19 Godlove Oppong 9
- 22 Latrell Humphrey-Ewers 8
- 31 Jeevan Pangali
Hemel Hempstead Town Lineup
Michael Johnson; Devante Trevaughan-Stanley, Christian Chigozie, David Agbontohoma, Josh Green (Kyran Wiltshire 90+6); Jacob Cook, Stefan Parkes, George Williams (Isaac Pitblado 90+3); Rio Oudnie-Morgan (Leo Ramirez-Espain 66), Lee Angol (Amir Hadi 72), Jake Tabor. Subs not used: James Taylor.