FT: SLOUGH TOWN 0-0 CHELMSFORD CITYChelmsford City and Slough Town shared the points on Saturday afternoon at Arbour Park, in a game which saw both sides reduced to 10-men during the second half.The Clarets went a man down first after Luke Jenkins was handed a second yellow card, before Slough defender Temi Eweka also received his second caution of the game in added time.Despite having one less player for most of the final 20 minutes, Robbie Simpson’s side arguably ended the game the stronger of the two, and can take these positives into Monday’s home game against Dover.There was little goalmouth action in the first half, with few chances for either side in a cagey start to the match.The game opened up during the second 45, with both goalkeepers making important saves early on in the half. Josh Oluwayemi produced a strong hand to keep out George Alexander’s well-struck low volley, which looked headed for the bottom corner of City’s goal.Moments later, Cardiff loanee Rohan Luthra kept his clean sheet intact by making two impressive stops in quick succession. Luthra first denied Samir Carruthers, whose looping effort tested the keeper after Carruthers had cut inside from the left flank. Luthra then showed impressive reflexes to keep out an effort from close range by Jermaine Francis, in the aftermath of Carruthers’ shot.Slough responded by going close again; the hosts hit the woodwork in the 69th minute when Eweka rose highest to connect with Matt Lench’s free-kick into the penalty area. With Oluwayemi beaten, the crossbar prevented the Slough defender’s header from opening the scoring.Jenkins was then handed his second yellow card of the game in the 75th minute, after being booked earlier in the half, for a foul on lively Slough winger David Ogbonna.The Rebels struggled to make their man advantage count, with the Clarets going closest to winning the game late on. Following a foul on Jermaine Francis, substitutes Charlie Ruff and Freddie Hockey almost decisively combined, with Ruff quickly playing a free-kick behind the Slough defence to find Hockey. Hockey went through on goal with his shot beating Luthra, but ending up the wrong side of the post by a matter of inches.Ben Brookes then tested Luthra via a free-kick, as 10-man City continued to push for a late winner.Slough lost their man advantage deep into the six minutes of added time, when a push on Hockey from Eweka proved to be the defender’s second bookable offence of the afternoon.With neither side able to break the deadlock, the game ended 0-0, allowing Slough to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions, and City to remain in distance of the play-off places.
Slough Town starting XI: Luthra (GK), Jackman ©, Bayliss, Lench, Goodard (Hutchinson 65), Eweka, Dyce, Davies, Sundire, Ogbonna, Alexander.Yellow cards: Eweka, Sundire, Jackman, Davies.
Red cards: EwekaChelmsford City starting XI: Oluwayemi (GK), Barnum-Bobb ©, James, Jenkins, Watts, Francis, Carruthers, Objero, Alfa (Ruff 56), Jones (Hockey 74), Bettamer (Brookes 76).Yellow cards: Jenkins, James, Bettamer, Ruff.
Red Cards: JenkinsWords by Jake Dixon
Attendance: 785 Cover
Photo by Roger Robinson Photography
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