On a damp Tuesday evening at Beaconsfield Road United’s third friendly of this pre-season ended in a single goal defeat to Slough Town, courtesy of an own goal by the unlucky Ben Gerring after 15 minutes.
In fact the goal came from nowhere. Neither ‘keeper had been tested until a low driven centre from Lewis Putman was diverted past his own ‘keeper Dan Lincoln by the unfortunate Ben Gerring.
Putman himself was denied a second for the Rebels around the half hour mark when Lincoln did well to palm away his shot. At the other end, Michael Thalassitis controlled the ball, rounded the visitors ‘keeper Mark Scott only for his effort to be blocked in the six yard box with Rhys Murrell-Williamson’s follow-up unable to sneak in at the far post.
Final chance of the half fell to United as a quick throw-in found Thalassitis who found Max Worsfold but having advanced, his shot went wide of the far post.
United were to have more of the attacking play in the second half but it was the Rebels who nearly doubled their lead just a couple of minutes after the re-start when Putman’s angled shot was deflected wide by the defensive intervention of Christian Smith.
A period of pressure from United saw the impressive Harry Grant feed Thalassitis but he was too high from the edge of the box and then a 25 yard Smith free-kick was well held by Scott in the Slough goal.
With 12 minutes remaining another United free-kick gave up the home sides’ last real chance. Luke Williams 30 yard effort was fumbled by Smith who was quick enough to smother substitute Dylan Kearney’s close range follow-up.
The final chance of the game fell to the visitors when Dan Read broke onto a through ball up the middle, he played the ball past Lincoln but it went wide off the outside of the post.
Report by Kevin Watts.
