For our fourth pre-season game we returned to Abour Park, this time as the visitors, to take on National League South side Slough Town.
Uxbridge made a few changes from the impressive 4-1 win over Hanwell Town on Tuesday evening with Purcell remaining in goal, Luke Paris and Shaun Preddie at centre half, Lewis Patrick at left back and Josh Andrew returning at right back. Lewis Cole was partnered by Michael Bryan and captain for the day Alex Witham, with Brad Pagliaroli and Anuar Ceesay on the wings and Malachi Celestine up top in place of the unavailable Dean Morgan.
On this horrible wet day Slough took the initiative straight away and only a couple of minutes had elapsed when the dangerous David Ogbonna cut inside Josh Andrew on the Slough left hand side and shot which Purcell was equal to. Just a few minutes later and Ogbonna replicated his trick but this time Paris was there to cut out the cross.
Although Slough had the majority of possession, their chances were few and far between; indeed, their only effort to note in the next half hour was a Minhas shot over the bar from an uncleared corner.
The main incident of the half took place in the 38th minute when Lewis Cole was adjudged to have fouled an opposition player in the box. A confident Scott Davies ran up only to chip the ball over the bar!
With Ceesay and Pagliaroli swapping wings with ten minutes to go before half time, it was the latter who had Uxbridge's first shot of the game after cutting inside the Slough left back. He had a left footed effort which went wide of the target.
On the stroke of half time, Slough nearly took the lead when Purcell flapped at a corner and the ball found its way to Ogbonna who curled his effort wide. The referee blew his whistle before the goal kick was taken.
A fairly even game and although Slough were ahead in the corner count 4 to 0, Uxbridge fully deserved to be going for a half time orange level pegging.
Uxbridge made one change at half time with McGuiness replacing Preddie at centre half.
53 minutes had elapsed when Uxbridge gained their first corner of the game through Witham.
Two minutes later, Purcell was on hand to keep the scores level with a fantastic low save from Minhas. However, from the resulting corner the Slough short corner was only cleared to an unmarked Sundire on the edge of the box who emphatically lashed the ball home with Purcell having no chance.
On the hour Slough should have made it 2 when an unmarked Minhas headed over from 8 yards whilst stretching following a cross from the right-hand side.
In the 61st minute, Uxbridge made 3 changes with Ezra Ndukuba, Emmanuel Tehe and keeper Victor-Andrei Cristea replacing Ceesay, Pagliaroli and Purcell. The experienced Jefferson Louis came on for the hosts. Pagliaroli returned to the field just 2 minutes later slotting in at left back for the injured Lewis Patrick.
In the 66th minute Christensen did well to prevent the hosts from doubling their lead with a brilliant save from the dangerous Minhas.
The game changing moment came in the 68th minute when Luke Paris had to leave the field with an injury and Alfie Harburn replacing him with Bryan going to centre half. This now meant we had 2 midfielders in the back 4!
Just 2 minutes later, Slough did double their lead when a Slough move found the ball reach Jefferson Louis unmarked in the area and the 44-year-old made no mistake.
Two more substitutes followed for Uxbridge with Witham and Andrew departing for Jaeru Kelly and Mitchell Dunstall.
In the 75th minute a superb move from Slough, which started from their back line, created a chance for the outstanding Minhas who shot across Christensen into the bottom left-hand corner. A minute later Slough picked the ball up in the middle of the park and again, Jefferson Louis was unmarked and slotted home. By now, you could see how big a miss Paris was. 4-0 Slough Town.
A rare foray forward from Uxbridge and a Harburn cross from the left should have been buried by Kelly but his header failed to make the goal line. Kelly was rescued by the linesman's flag, maybe he knew!
83 minutes had passed when Gabe George skipped down the left-hand side and whipped a low ball across the 6-yard box for Minhas to slot home for his second and Slough's fifth of the afternoon.
Unfortunately for Uxbridge, there was one more goal to come for Slough and this occurred in the 87th minute when another great piece of play from Harvey Harry on the Slough right hand side, Minhas failed to gather the ball cleanly but Goddard was on hand to make it 6!
Although the match finished with a 6-0 defeat for Uxbridge, they can be proud of their first half display in which they nullified the hosts and it was only when Paris went off did Slough really gain the upper hand.
Our pre-season continues on Tuesday night when we take on Risborough Rangers!
Match Report by David Mallam