Drakes-Thomas strikes at the death as Slough Town edge FA Cup thriller

Slough Town celebrate their late winner against Enfield. Credit: Zak Rana

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Slough Town 3, Enfield Town 2

Slough Town edged a cracking FA Cup tie that had just about everything as Jaiden Drakes-Thomas swept home an injury-time winner in a 3-2 victory over league rivals Enfield Town at Arbour Park.

The goals in this entertaining final qualifying round tie were served up both early and late, with Ollie Knight heading the visitors in front after only 40 seconds, and the Towners will be disappointed they weren’t able to build on that lead in a dominant opening spell.

Lamar Reynolds saw his goal bound attempts bravely blocked not once, but twice, by Rebels’ player manager Scott Davies as the visitors threatened to give themselves a two-goal cushion.

These two teams were equally matched in their league match at Arbour Park earlier in the season, and they’re separated by a handful of points and places in the league, so it was no surprise that this tie was also on a knife-edge for the most part.

Having worked their way back into the contest midway through the first half, the Rebels drew level shortly before the half-hour mark when Wiktor Makowski was played through on goal. His low effort was saved by former Slough keeper Rhys Forster, but the ball rebounded for Johnny Goddard, who clipped a second attempt against the crossbar and this time the ball bounced kindly for Ruben Bartlett-Antwi to nod home Slough’s equaliser.

Momentum appeared to swing Enfield’s way once again in the closing stages of the first half when the hosts lost two key players to injury. First captain Henry Ochieng, who’d earlier curled a shot narrowly wide of the post, was injured in an accidental coming together with an Enfield player. He was helped off by members of the Rebels backroom staff, and within minutes, goal scorer Bartlett-Antwi was being helped off too after another clash in the centre of the field. Brian Nelson and Jared Myers were brought on to replace them but for a short spell, the Rebels lost their way a little and Enfield were able to take full advantage.

Great scenes at Arbour Park as @sloughtownfc celebrate reaching the first round of the FA Cup. They’ve beaten Enfield Town with a late goal from Jaiden Drakes-Thomas! 3-2 pic.twitter.com/9hxMeN1fDj

— Daniel Darlington (@Darlington10) October 11, 2025

Seconds before the half-time whistle the visitors forced a corner on the right and Nino Adam-Maliki swung over a ball that Henry Hawkins headed home virtually unopposed at the back post.

As they celebrated in front of a strong away following in the far corner, it felt like Enfield had the edge in the tie over their heavily depleted hosts, who’d been further weakened by the injuries sustained by Ochieng and Bartlett-Antwi.

The second half initially lacked the excitement and frenetic pace of the first half, as Enfield settled into a more conservative and defensive approach. For 20 minutes or so they held the Rebels at arm’s length, even if they were happy to concede more possession.

But in the 68th minute, Makowski chased a seemingly lost cause into the Enfield area, dispossessed Town’s defender - illegally in the eyes of the Enfield supporters - and smashed a low shot beyond Forster.

Both sides searched for a winner in the closing stages and the result could have swung either way. Nelson sent a shot from the edge of the area wide of the post in the 78th minute, while Enfield must have thought they’d restored their lead when the excellent Avan Jones swung in another low cross for Bayley Brown to touch onto the foot of the post. Tarik Gidaree and Davies were able to clear the danger and the Rebels very nearly countered to good effect, but the visitors were able to snuff out the danger, despite Slough having something of an overload.

It looked like both sides might have to settle for a draw, and a replay at The Dave Bryant Stadium in midweek, but Town switched off in the second minute of stoppage time. They failed to pick up Johnny Goddard who cut the ball back for substitute Drakes-Thomas to side-foot the ball home from just inside the area.

Cue bedlam among the Slough supporters - and crushing disappointment for Enfield’s supporters - and it’s the Rebels who advance to Monday’s FA Cup first round draw where they’ll hope to be drawn out against an EFL side once again.