Rebels slip back into relegation zone after 2–0 defeat at Dover Athletic

Photo: Zak Rana

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Dover Athletic 2, Slough Town 0

Slough Town warmed up for this weekend’s huge FA Cup second round clash with Macclesfield at Arbour Park in disappointing fashion as they went down to a 2-0 league defeat at Dover Athletic on Saturday.

Perhaps the Rebels played with one eye on next weekend’s cup clash, but Scott Davies team were someway short of the levels they found in recent home wins over AFC Totton and Farnborough.

Those results had lifted the Rebels out of the National League South relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s trip to The Crabble, but this result has seen them dip back below the dreaded dotted line with the side falling to 21st.

The damage was done in the second half with goals from George Nikaj and Kenny Coker sealing victory for the hosts and extending their unbeaten run to five matches.

On a heavy pitch following plenty of pre-match rain, the two teams played out a stalemate in the first half, however, the visitors carved out a few decent chances.

Luke Holness cut inside his man in the 10th minute and fired narrowly wide of the post, while at the other end, Francis Mampolo looked to have fired Dover in front in the 28th minute, but his celebrations were cut short by the assistant’s flag.

The Whites saw Siju Odelusi snatch a little at a good chance shortly afterwards, while Slough’s new signing Ruben Shakpoke forced Mitch Walker into a fine save with a sharp effort before Tyrese Dyce sliced wide of the target just before the interval.

Shakpoke went close again for the Rebels just after the interval with an acrobatic effort that flew narrowly wide, but the visitors were trailing shortly afterwards when Nikaj scored his first goal since September.

Beadle delivered a high ball into the box that was nodded onto the crossbar by Jalen Jones and Nikaj reacted quickly to tuck the ball home in the 49th minute.

Nikaj came close to a second with a fierce shot that went just wide as the home side threatened a second.

Slough then made five substitutions just after the hour mark to try and rescue a little initiative. A similarly bold strategy had worked well in their come-from-behind win over Totton in midweek.

Jordan Greenidge, Jacob Bourgnis, Harvey Walker, Wiktor Makowski and Tyrique Clarke came on for Johnny Goddard, Brian Nelson, Shakpoke, Ansu Janneh and Holness and they managed to get back on the front foot before their challenge petered out.

Clarke was denied by Walker in the 71st minute before Jared Myers finished smartly in the 75th minute only for the assistant’s flag to intervene in Dover’s favour.

If that was a setback, Coker then doubled Dover’s lead in the 78th minute, shortly after coming on as a substitute to firmly kill off Slough’s hopes. He latched onto a flick from fellow substitute Luke Baptiste and drilled a low shot beyond Debois.

A fantastic double save from Adam Desbois prevented Dover from adding to their lead while Nikaj - now brimming with confidence - almost scored with a spectacular effort from 40 yards, the ball cannoning back off the bar.

The win lifts Dover to 11th place, now only three points off the play-off places.

Slough will look to put this result behind them, just as they did with their 4-1 home defeat to Maidstone United in the week before beating Altrincham to progress in the FA Cup.