Jackman's jewel sends Rebels on their way to victory over Stones

Slough Town 2, Maidstone United 1

Josh Jackman’s fantastic 30-yard strike set the Rebels on their way to an unexpected but well deserved three points against title challenging Maidstone United this afternoon.

The right back strode forward from just inside the Stones half in the 50th minute and let fly with an audacious attempt that scorched past Tom Hadler to give the hosts what proved an unassailable lead.

They’d deservedly got themselves in front in the 16th minute through Edon Pruti’s towering header from Kurtis Cumberbatch’s corner.

The Stones rallied in the final half hour, but needed a penalty kick, slotted home by Joan Luque-Prados, to give them the impetus to do this.

Not surprisingly, for a team that had won seven of its last eight matches to move level at the top with Dorking Wanderers, the Stones pressed hard in the final stages, throwing men forward and pinging balls into the box from the left and right.

But the Rebels defence, marshalled brilliantly by young Pruti and the experienced Lee Togwell held firm, while Scott Davies also dropped deeper as the game wore on to make some crucial challenges.

Once again, the Rebels raised their levels for the visit of one of the league’s full-time sides and this was evident from the early stages as they tackled, harried, and hassled the Stones, barely giving them a moment’s peace.

The hosts opened the scoring after only 16 minutes when Pruti rose highest to powerfully head home Cumberbatch’s corner from the right.

Attempts for the visitors in the first half were few and far between. Luque-Prados headed a good chance wide in the 22nd minute, while Roarie Deacon tested Jonathan North from just inside the Rebels’ area, but the Slough keeper made a comfortable save.

Jackman perhaps served notice of what he was capable of late in the first half when he fired a left-footed volley just over the corner of post and bar, and the home side were good value for their lead at the interval.

There was no discernible improvement from the visitors after the break, with Slough continuing to look composed at the back and a threat on the break. From one such counter George Hunt and Tyler Goodrham combined to move the ball at pace into the Stones’ penalty area, but Hunt’s pull back was just behind the lurking Alfonso Tenconi.

Then came the moment of the match, and it was worth the entrance fee alone. Jackman surprising everyone inside Arbour Park, and perhaps even himself – although he has chipped in with a few Rebels goals this season – with a thundering shot from distance that whistled past the outstretched hand of Hadler and into the net.

Arbour Park erupted, and the Stones management team slumped back onto their bench. They were gifted a route back into the game, however, when Goodrham made what joint manager Jon Underwood called a ‘forward’s challenge’ as he lunged in to bring down Jerome Binnom-Williams and the referee pointed to the spot.

Luque Prados kept his cool to make it 2-1 in the 58th minute and suddenly the outcome was very much back in the balance.

Despite this the visitors created few clear-cut chances in the final 30 minutes. The closest they came was in the 79th minute when Luque-Prados’ curling effort was pushed away by North, down to his left.

The former Maidenhead United defender Joe Ellul also went close for the visitors, heading over from close range as the Stones flooded the area late in the game. However, that’s as close as they came, and Slough held on for their 10th win of the campaign and one that moves them to within seven points of the top seven.

They also kick off a tough week with a morale-boosting win to send them into this week’s trips to Bath City on Tuesday and Dulwich Hamlet next Saturday full of confidence.