Drakes-Thomas stunner and Desbois heroics lift Rebels in final warm-up match

Tony Fontenelle

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Slough Town’s attention now turns to their opening game of the National League South season at Tonbridge Angels on Saturday after the Rebels brought the curtain down on pre-season with a 2-1 defeat at Wealdstone.

The Stones will be playing a level above the Rebels this season and they raced into a 2-0 half-time lead before a moment of magic from Jaiden Drakes-Thomas saw the visitors cut the deficit in the second half.

His strike, from inside his own half, was the moment of the game and sent the Rebels fans home happy, having seen their side compete well against higher level opposition.

The hosts took the lead in the 11th minute when Deon Woodham was given the freedom of the Rebels penalty area to head home unchallenged.

Assistant boss Tony Fontenelle wasn’t exactly thrilled with Slough’s defending for the goal, and they were caught out again in the 26th minute when a smart reverse pass from Georgiou presented the chance for Nathan Tshikuna to calmly slot home.

Half-time changes saw Johnny Goddard and Drakes-Thomas enter the fray and the visitors raised their game accordingly.

Jared Myers went close to finishing off a flowing Rebels move, while Adam Desbois pulled off a double save to prevent the hosts from going further in front.

Then, late in the game, Drakes-Thomas intercepted a pass and chanced his arm from inside his own half, the ball sailing over the Wealdstone keeper, who was off his line, and into the back of the net.

There was still time for Desbois to pull off a fine penalty save to keep the score at 2-1, and that capped off an improved second half display. For Fontenelle, this was another good work out for the side ahead of their National League South opener at Tonbridge this Saturday (August 9, 3pm kick-off).

“We know what an excellent technician he is, and you can’t teach that,” said Fontenelle in an interview for sloughtownfc.net.

“That goal just shows what he’s got in his locker.

“Adam’s (Desbois) made four or five first-class saves. He’s shown exactly why we brought him to the club,” Fontenelle added.

“We’re a million miles away from where we were at the start.

“The lads have really bought into how we want to do things, and we’ve seen real steady progression. We’re excited for the season to start.”

The Rebels have generally performed well against National League opposition in their past two friendly matches, having held Southend United to a goalless draw at Arbour Park on Tuesday night.