Davies 'floating' on adrenaline – Slough's FA Cup spirit tops 'anything in my 750-game career'

Scott Davies. Photo credit: Zak Rana

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Slough Town’s player manager Scott Davies says he was ‘floating’ on adrenalin and excitement after the Rebels came from behind to beat Enfield Town 3-2 on Saturday and book their place in the first round of the FA Cup.

On paper, Slough may have been slight favourites to progress to the first round, but a horrendous injury list was compounded in the first half as the hosts lost their captain Henry Ochieng and Ruben Bartlett-Antwi to knocks that forced them off.

Those injuries left the Rebels without nine possible starters, but still they managed to scrap their way back into the tie with a thread bare and inexperienced squad.

The hosts fell behind after only 40 seconds, when Avan Jones’ brilliant cross cut out Davies and Ollier Webber and left Ollie Knight with the chance to head Enfield in front. A second and third goal could have come the visitor’s way before Slough settled into the game and equalised through Ruben Bartlett-Antwi on the half-hour mark.

Slough then saw both Ochieng and Bartlett-Antwi forced off through injury, while Henry Hawkins headed Town ahead on the stroke of half-time. Davies admits he was feeling a little down in the dumps at half-time, fearing his side might not be able to drag themselves back into the tie.

But they defied their inexperience and hit back in the second half with a slightly ‘fortuitous’ but well-taken equaliser from Wiktor Makowski before substitute Jaiden Drakes-Thomas rattled in Slough’s winner in the 92nd minute.

The emotions of a stoppage time winner

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Having had some time to take a breather after the final whistle, Slough Town boss Davies spoke with Connor McNeish for Sloughtownfc.net.

He said: “The only people who know what a big result that is are the people who follow Slough. They know what adversity we’ve had to go through pre-game and during the game.

“We’ve got nine players out and seven or eight of those nine possibly start. We’ve got a scratch side on paper and lads who have under 10 appearances at this level all over the pitch.

“I’ve been involved in maybe 750 games in my career, and I’ve said to the lads in there, I think that maybe tops it. I’m so, so proud of the boys. The performance they put in, the mentality they showed as young players, it’s incredible. I’m actually lost for words.”

“At half-time I was probably a little bit downbeat. The second goal for them, just before half-time was a bit of a killer. But this team has a never say die attitude and it was incredible. They amaze me.

“If we’d lost today, people would have had a lot to say, because on paper it says Slough vs Enfield. But the number of injuries we’ve had to overcome today. Like I’ve said, losing our captain (Henry Ochieng) and losing Ruben, plus the seven lads we already had unavailable. It’s incredible.

“My fault, I didn’t get closer to the man in the box. It was an incredible cross to be fair to the lad, he took me out of the game and took the keeper out of the game. Their lad has had a free header. We were then on the back foot, and we wanted to start fast. We were up against it. Then I thought we had a couple of half chances and were pretty wasteful. Then we got the goal. It didn’t look like it was going to go in. Wiktor had a shot and then Johnny’s had a shot, but Ruben has followed it in.

“Then I felt like we were on top a little bit and their second goal was a bit of a sucker punch before half-time.

“In the second half I thought we looked fairly comfortable in terms of asking questions and having territory. I can’t remember them having too many chances apart from the mad scramble at the end when it’s come off the post. They didn’t get into too many dangerous situations. In the end, the pressure paid off. Wiktor got his goal and there might have been a little bit of luck with that on our side fortunately.

“The referee’s usually give those. But the referee let a lot go today, there was a lot of tackles flying in, but that’s the type of game you want. It was hustle and bustle and a proper cup tie. We were fortuitous to get the goal through Witkor, but it was a great finish, and Jaiden has come up trumps at the end with a great finish, and Johnny Goddard with some great work leading up to that.

“That’s the beauty of football. He’s come on today and got the goal, and he’ll go home happy. We talk about starters, impactors and finishers. He’s come on an impacted the game. He’s finished it off for us. I’m just so proud of the everyone at the football club, from top to bottom.”

Davies believes they’ll be missing Ochieng for a few weeks at least, while Bartlett-Antwi’s injury looks like it may be less serious. Ochieng was set for a scan on his injury this week.

The player boss hopes the Rebels get an ‘unbelievable draw’ in this evening’s draw (Monday) - for the players and the fans. But even if they don’t, he knows a more favourable draw could see them advance into the second round.

“Hopefully we get an unbelievable draw,” he said.

“It’s not always the case, but it’s nice to be in the hat and bring in some much-needed finances for the club and a few extra quid in the kitty for the Christmas do for the boys.

“Wycombe for the fans would be the number 1 tie. And probably for myself as well. It would be a great one. I know Yells wants Luton Town because he’s a Luton fan.

“We might not get the draw we want but we’ve created memories to get through to the first round again, and you never know. If you don’t get the draw that you want, you might get a draw that allows us to get through to round two, you never know. I just want to enjoy tonight.”