Slough Town suffered their first defeat of pre-season as Hayes & Yeading United claimed a 3-2 victory in an entertaining encounter at Arbour Park.
The visitors made the brighter start on the scoreboard, although the Rebels had the first clear opportunity when Godlove Oppong was denied by some excellent last-ditch defending after breaking into the penalty area. Hayes & Yeading took the lead midway through the first half with a fortunate effort that struck both posts before crossing the line, and doubled their advantage shortly before the interval with a header at the back post.
Slough responded in first-half stoppage time when Oppong was brought down inside the area before confidently converting the resulting penalty to halve the deficit.
Alan Julian made wholesale changes at the break and his side were level less than two minutes into the second half. Good work from Jared Myers down the right created the opening for Ruben Shakpoke, who finished well to make it 2-2.
The Rebels looked the more threatening for spells after the equaliser and almost went ahead just before the hour mark, with Shakpoke's dangerous cross narrowly evading Myers in the six-yard box. However, Hayes & Yeading struck the decisive blow eight minutes from time to seal a 3-2 victory.
The match provided another valuable workout for Julian's squad as preparations continue ahead of the new National League South season.
The Rebels are back in action on Tuesday 14 July when they welcome Basingstoke Town to Arbour Park for a 7.45pm kick-off.
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Julian said after the game: "I thought it was a big step forwards in terms of how we want to play.
"The result is the result and yes, of course you want to win football matches, of course you do. But in terms of the performance, we saw a lot more of how we want to be.
"I felt the five EDS lads were fantastic first half. That's a brilliant learning experience for them again, coming in and playing. So big thank you to all of them coming and helping us with the numbers and they can be really, really proud of themselves again."
He added: "I think there was a hell of a lot more final third entries, penalty area entries going on from Saturday.
"Different opposition but we definitely got in the final third a lot more and then one or two better decisions or better finishing and we score a lot more goals.
"It was definitely a step forwards and there was a lot of pleasing aspects."
