City came back from Holloways Park, Beaconsfield (the temporary home of Slough Town) with a hard earned point on Saturday in a game that was expected to be ruined by the torrential rain over night and in the morning but the pitch held up surprisingly well and although it caused some difficulties an exciting end to end game ensued. Missing at least three key plays Steve Llewellyn, injured, and skipper Dave Allen and Adam George both suspended, the City side put up a fighting performance.
Slough put the pressure on straight away and Terry Cox chested out a shot that had beaten Clint Davies but the resultant corner was headed home by Dean Harper to give them the lead in the 5th minute. Gradually City got into the game and from a corner of their own Matt Bowler had a powerful header kicked off the line. Mark Lilley made a couple of runs well supported by Matt Czastka and Luke Hornsley but never really looked like scoring.
Winchester’s break came in the 22nd minute when Adam Lang sent in a free kick and James O’Keeffee got a touch to divert it past the keeper for the equaliser.
Leading by 11 corners to 4 at the break Slough must have thought that in the second half they would push on and win but for City the game really came alive in the second half. Manager Andy Leader switched Bowler from centre half to centre forward and for the first 20 minutes City dominated the game. Czastka lobbed the keeper but his shot hit the junction of crossbar and post and was cleared. In the 47th minute, however, a great individual run by Lilley saw him beat the keeper with an angled shot to give City the lead.
It did not take the ‘Rebels’ long to equalise and in probably the best move of the match they worked the ball from flank to midfield and Harper scored his second goal with a swivel shot from close range.
From then on it could have been anyone’s match, until the referee intervened! Slough had Harper sent off for two yellow cards which swung the advantage to City and again Czastka went close having a shot headed out from under the crossbar. Terry Cox sent over a series of accurate corners which Bowler, Scott Gilham and Sam Lockyer all managed to fire goalwards but the winner would not come. James Wilson and Lang worked hard in defence and often made runs down the flank but City could not break down a decent defence.
With about a quarter of an hour to go Brett williams and James Davis replaced Hornsley and Lilley and the fresh legs began to make much difference pressing Slough back into their own penalty area. Ten minutes from time Tom Riddell replaced Czastka and with time ticking away City looked the most likely to win the game but in injury time this chance was snatched away when Williams was unfortunately sent off for an alleged two-footed tackle when he appeared to have won the ball.
City: Clint Davies, James Wilson, Adam Lang, Terry Cox, Matt Bowler, Scott Gilham, Matt Czastka, Luke Hornsley, Mark Lilley, James O’Keeffe, Sam Lockyer, Substitutes, James Ball, Tom Riddell (81st), Brett Williams (72nd), James Davis (72nd), Liam Gilbert.
