New signing Dan Bayliss sent off as Slough Town are beaten by Maidstone United

Scott Davies will have some food for thought after Slough’s opening day defeat.

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Maidstone United 2, Slough Town 1

Centre half Dan Bayliss saw red in his first competitive start for the Rebels, as Slough Town were beaten 2-1 at Maidstone United on Saturday.

It’s been a summer of change at Arbour Park, with seven new signings starting the side’s opening National League South match at the Gallagher Stadium.

And, but for the dismissal of Bayliss for a professional foul midway through the second half, the outcome might have been different for Scott Davies’ side.

Certainly, this was an entertaining game between two potentially exciting teams this season with the Rebels giving as good as they got for much of the match – even after Bayliss had been given his marching orders in the 54th minute.

Having taken the lead through Johnny Goddard’s deflected drive in the 34th minute, the visitors were pegged back before half-time when Jeanmal Prosper was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. Sol Wanjau-Smith made them pay from the spot, slotting the ball beyond the Rebels’ new keeper Hubert Graczyk.

Momentum swung both ways in the first half, with the Rebels very nearly getting off to a perfect start through Tyrese Dyce’s header that bounced narrowly wide from a Matt Lench corner. Graczyk was also kept on his toes by a lively Stones’ forward line and the 1-1 scoreline at the break was about right based on balance of play and chances created.

Bayliss made a magnificent block to deny Wanjau-Smith what looked a certain second in the 53rd minute, however, his afternoon was cut short just a minute later when he brought down the influential Wanjau-Smith as the last man. The referee pulled out the red card for a professional foul and in the five-minute period of disorganisation which followed, Maidstone capitalised.

Davies sacrificed striker Tom McElroy in favour of the more defensively minded Gabe George, however, the Stones snatched the lead in the 61st minute when Reiss Greenidge followed in his own header to turn home the rebound after Graczyk had pulled off a decent save to keep out the initial effort.

Despite playing with only 10 men, Slough continued to pose a threat, with Joe Dandy seeing a 72nd minute header from a corner deflected behind. Lench then saw his brilliant volley blocked on the goal line after the Stones had only partially cleared an 84th minute corner.

Slough will hope to bounce back when they welcome Dover Athletic to Arbour Park on Saturday. Dover kicked off their season with a 2-2 draw at home to recently relegated Torquay United.