Slough Town stun Aveley with deserved win at Arbour Park

Slough Town 2, Aveley 0

Slough Town were able to back up their recent triumph against Dartford with a richly deserving victory over high-flying Aveley on Saturday afternoon.

George Alexander scored early on, and Dom Hutchinson added a second goal after the interval to secure the Rebels their third win of the National League South season.

Aveley weren’t without chances in this encounter but ultimately found it challenging to beat ‘keeper Rohan Luthra with Dan Bayliss, Temi Eweka, and player manager Scott Davies in defence.

“A great result for us today. To defeat the team on top of the league is massive,” said Davies at full-time. “Our shape has been working brilliantly, that proved on Tuesday night against Dartford and again today.

“I’ve plonked myself in the middle of Temi and Dan and they’ve been excellent in attacking the ball in the air, something which isn’t my strength anymore. We’ve got a good balance, and everyone has come to the party in the last two games.”

In stifling conditions, Slough Town started well and took the lead in the 10th minute when Hutchinson played Alexander in for a simple finish past stopper Jonathan North.

The young striker could have bagged his seventh goal of the season for the Rebels not long after had he not flashed his shot wide of the woodwork.

A high Aveley press caused all sorts of problems in the 31st minute as Luthra passed the ball carelessly to a forward before the danger was hastily swept away.

The score should have been 2-0 with minutes of the first half remaining, however, as Bayliss nodded a header narrowly wide.

Nevertheless, the Rebels were celebrating shortly after the break as Hutchinson tucked in a rebound from close range, the first shot by Alexander uncomfortably saved by North.

The Millers felt they should have had a penalty in the 80th minute after Eweka went in rather strong on Talex Hernandez but the appeals were waved away by the referee.

Substitute Leon Chambers-Parillon was unlucky to not get his name on the scoresheet late on as his strike sailed just wide before Nana Kyei rattled the woodwork.

The Rebels had one last chance to extend their lead as Eweka rose highest from a corner but his header was off target.

Slough Town will now turn their attention to Hayes & Yeading United in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup (Saturday, September 16).

Healthy amount of high fives from the Rebels!pic.twitter.com/cNFL5F54q7

— Joshua Browne (@JoshuaB_BM)September 9, 2023