Fontenelle admits makeshift side have given the management team a headache

Joe Dandy photographed last season. Photo: George Beck

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Slough Town were good value for Saturday's 2-1 win over Farnborough in the FA Trophy at Arbour Park, and assistant manager Tony Fontenelle admits the Rebels patched-up side has given the management team a bit of a headache ahead of the club's return to league action.

The Rebels were knocked out of the FA Cup by League 2 Grimsby Town last week, but they're still going strong in the FA Trophy thanks to goals from Nathan Minhas and Johnny Goddard in Saturday's win.

However, the diligent defensive work of the side's makeshift back four was also key to the Rebels progressing and putting their name in the hat for this afternoon's (Monday) third round draw.

Temi Eweka and player manager Scott Davies were casualties of the side's trip to Blundell Park last week, while centre half Dan Bayliss was ruled out after injuring himself in Saturday's warm-up, having initially been named in the starting XI.

Joe Dandy came in to replace him and did excellently, while Jeanmal Prosper showed his versatility with an impressive display alongside him in central defence.

New keeper Dan Lincoln also distinguished himself with a solid display on debut, and a double save mid-way through the second half certainly caught the eye. Tyrese Dyce, who played and scored in Tuesday's 7-2 defeat to Grimsby Town in the FA Cup first round, also made a match-winning block in the final seconds to deny Michael Folivi an equaliser.

Speaking after the final whistle, Fontenelle said: “We had to make several enforced changes, which I'm not saying we were concerned about, but obviously all our plans and preparations went out of the window.

“But the lads, to a person, stepped up and did fantastic and I thought we were good value for the win.

“This is what we're saying to the lads. They'll get opportunities and every one of them have done that today. It gives Scotty (Davies) and the rest of our management team a bit of a headache for the next team selection. But every single lad was a credit to themselves and the club today.

“We've just got to bring our cup form into the league now, and that's something we'll be looking to do. It's important that we put in another performance today, which we did, but more importantly we got the result.

“It sounds cliche, but strikers are paid to score goals and it's the same with the goalkeeper in terms of saving goals, but one of Dan's saves at the end there was exceptional. We're excited to get Dan over the line and we've already seen glimpses of what he's capable of.”

Gary Abisogun also returned to the side as a substitute in Saturday’s win following a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.

The Rebels are back in action tomorrow evening (Tuesday) against Havant & Waterlooville at Arbour Park, 7.45pm kick-off. They currently sit just outside of the drop zone on goal difference but will look to make the most of a run of three straight home games against Havant, Braintree Town (this Saturday) and Farnborough again (December 16).