Makowski strikes early but Dolaghan's double breaks Slough Town's resistance

Wiktor Makowski. Photo: Zak Rana

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Slough Town 1, Worthing 2

Slough Town can take some heart from the way they played at Arbour Park this afternoon, particularly in the first half after Wiktor Makowski headed them into an early lead.

But Worthing showed their class and quality - and spirit - as they fought back in dreadful conditions to take all three points with a couple of poachers finishes from Brad Dolaghan.

Worthing came into this game having won their last seven matches in all competitions - their last three or four by a considerable margin as well. So they were bang in form against a Slough side that has been searching and striving for form in recent matches.

The Rebels sat a point inside the relegation zone ahead of kick off, but they’d won well at home against Farnborough in mid-week, with new striker Ruben Shakpoke showing a nice understanding with his forward partner Makowski. That understanding is clearly growing and there were more good signs the pair can strike up a fruitful relationship over the coming months.

Worthing probably saw more of the ball in the first half and had more of the territory, but Slough were clearly the better side, and they deservedly took the lead in the fifth minute when Johnny Goddard swept in a pinpoint cross that Makowski headed home at the near post.

The ball pinged off the post and took an age to cross the line, but the Rebels had their lead, and they were determined to hold onto it.

A disappointed Wiktor Makowski after @sloughtownfc’s 2-1 defeat to @WorthingFC this afternoon. There were positives for the Revels, particularly the first half, but Worthing turned the game their way with a second half brace from Dolaghan. pic.twitter.com/NPrppuApYL

— Daniel Darlington (@Darlington10) November 22, 2025

Defending magnificently, they restricted their visitors to a handful of half chances, while they really should have stretched their lead at the other end.

In the 19th minute, Tyrique Clarke won the ball back for the hosts and played in Makowski. He looked to take the ball around his man and get a shot away but was robbed of possession just as he went to pull the trigger. The ball dropped invitingly for Clarke to score, but the midfielder failed to get hold of his shot and Josh Jefferies was able to make a comfortable save.

Worthing’s best chance of the half fell to their fullback Colbran who managed to control a crossfield ball and get into the box. He got a shot off on goal under pressure, but Adam Desbois was able to shovel it behind for a corner.

The impressive Jared Myers then nearly finished off a flowing Slough move in the 42nd minute. Makowski, Shakpoke and Jacob Bougnis were all involved before Myers sent a swerving shot from the right of the area narrowly past the post.

A two-goal cushion wouldn’t have flattered the Rebels at the break and player manager Scott Davies will be delighted with how his side performed in that first period against one of the teams likely to challenge for the title.

They looked to have Worthing’s number for much of the second half as well and Clarke missed another great chance to make it 2-0 in the 48th minute when Myers beat his man on the right and cut the ball back, but the ball bobbled up, and he fired over the bar.

Had that gone in, the Rebels might have dampened Worthing’s spirit in the gloomy wet conditions. But from about the hour mark they began to get the better of their hosts, and no one could really argue that they didn’t deserve the two goals they scored through their prolific striker Dolaghan. In netting twice, he took his tally for goals in all competitions this season to 16.

Before that, though, Desbois pulled off a couple of wonder saves to preserve Slough’s lead.

Diving at the feet of substitute Odokonyero, the Slough keeper did just enough to thwart him at close-range. Desbois then sprung back into action to keep out efforts from Dolaghan and Odokonyero again. The triple save spared Davies’ blushes after he’d been guilty of giving the ball away cheaply in the build-up.

Unfortunately, that moment set the tone for the next 10 to 15 minutes. After Teddy Jenks had swept a low shot wide, Worthing levelled when Colbran’s cross from the right was deflected into his path and he coolly steered the ball beyond Desbois in the 69th minute.

His second came in the 76th minute at it was almost a carbon copy goal. Again, Colbran was the architect, swinging in a low cross which Dolaghan controlled and powered in at the near post.

The game had been turned on its head, and for a period, it looked like Slough might buckle and concede more.

However, in the final minutes, they threw caution to the wind and were somewhat unfortunate not to grab themselves a late leveller. Dan Roth went close with a far post header that caused panic in the Worthing backline while substitute Peter Ojemen fired over the bar when well placed in the box.

When Jefferies dived at the feet of Jaiden Drakes-Thomas in stoppage time, Worthing must have known they’d done enough to earn the points, and they defended well when under pressure in those final minutes.

They stay third in the table but move to within two points of second placed Weston Super Mare. Slough drop a place to 22nd but they remain just a point inside the relegation zone from Farnborough.