Goddard’s stoppage-time stunner earns Slough dramatic point against Salisbury

Johnny Goddard celebrates his stoppage time equaliser against Salisbury. Photo: Zak Rana

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Slough Town’s game against Salisbury on Saturday was one which entertained and frustrated in equal measure for supporters of the Rebels and the Whites.

Three times the hosts trailed and three times they fought back to get on level terms with Johnny Goddard serving up a moment of magic in second half stoppage time to earn his side a point.

Slough would have come into this game hoping to win it - and bounce back from the disappointment of their mid-week defeat at home to Hampton & Richmond.

But as player boss Scott Davies said afterwards, ‘if there’s ever a way to draw a game, that was the best way to do it’.

 Rebels’ fans at Arbour Park certainly got their money’s worth and the result lifts the side up to 13th in the table, now on 50 points for the campaign. That was the side’s stretch target at the turn of the year but now it’s been achieved, Davies’s injury-hit but hardworking side will look to eclipse it.

Johnny Goddard spoke with Connor McNeish after his late, late heroics rescued a point at Arbour Park today.#OneSloughhttps://t.co/MVlBNZGo01

— Slough Town FC (@sloughtownfc) March 14, 2026

They had to grind out their point the hard way on Saturday, falling behind after only six minutes when Odokonyero found the net for the visitors.

Their response didn’t come immediately, but they got themselves back on level terms after a shaky period when Ruben Shakpoke was taken down in the box in the 14th minute and stepped up to calmly slot Slough level from the penalty spot.

The Rebels then settled into the contest and looked the more likely to forge ahead when Harvey Walker stung the palms of keeper Will Buse in the 24th minute. Shakpoke headed another presentable opportunity over the bar just before the half-hour mark before the visitors retook the lead through Josh Hedges. That felt like a kick in the teeth, but the Rebels remained defiant right to the last.

Tyrese Dyce sent an effort just wide of the post in the 52nd minute before Shakpoke turned provider in the 62nd minute, unselfishly playing Luke Holness through and he was able to tuck the ball under Buse and into the back of the net in the 62nd minute. 

Again, you sensed Slough would kick on and push for three points, but they never managed to get their noses in front in this one, despite Shakpoke testing Buse once again after shrugging off his marker and getting a shot off on goal in the 68th minute. Goddard also sent a low effort fizzing wide of the visitors’ upright. The game became increasingly stretched with Holness heading wide from a Baku Makumbi cross in the 84th minute.

But then an 89th penalty was awarded to the visitors, and Noah Coppin must have thought he’d bagged Salisbury all three points when he converted it. And the visiting bench must have felt even more confident that would be the case when only three minutes of stoppage time were added.

 But in the dying embers, Slough found a way. Goddard cut in from the left and bent a brilliant strike into the far corner to make it 3-3.

Pure magic #OneSlough pic.twitter.com/1FB7BvluN5

— Slough Town FC (@sloughtownfc) March 15, 2026

It was a moment of magic which lifts spirits once again ahead of tonight’s trip to Chelmsford City. The Clarets sit 10th in the table, seven points above the Rebels having played three fewer games. They’re still very much in the mix for the play-offs given those matches in hand but Slough are often at their best when little is expected from them.