On Saturday we welcome to the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium, Slough Town, hoping to get back onto the winning trail whilst seeking a first National League South victory at Longmead over our visitors.

Jay Saunders not only has to find a way to beat a well established National League South side but also faces a challenging team selection with Taylor Maloney, Scott Wagstaff, Mo Dabre and Liam Vincent injured while Ryan Hanson, Garrett Kelly and Luca Botti serve suspensions.

Jay told Kent Online Sport: “If you asked me to name my team at this point, I wouldn’t be able to,” he said. “I think we’re going to have to see where we’re at on Thursday.

“Hopefully we can get one or two signings over the line to help the squad but at the moment it’s difficult to plan.

“We’ll do our research on Slough but our main concern is getting a side out that can compete.”

Slough Town made a terrific start to this season and spent a couple of weeks at the top of the table, but have struggled recently and presently sit 14th. Despite being eight games without a win, they have had some good results of late. Their home record is incredible with only two defeats in the last 40 games since the Angels won there in September 2023 and in the last seven days they have held both Eastbourne Borough and Torquay United to draws. But, away from Arbour Park, their form has been indifferent with three wins this season at Enfield Town, Aveley and Chippenham Town.

Scott Davies is the league's only player-manager, taking over in November 2022 from Jon Underwood and Neil Baker. After their 2-2 draw with Torquay on Tuesday night, the manager commented: “We conceded two awful goals but managed to come away with a point and the boys have to take some credit for their never say die attitude after two tough games in three days. It's a tough run of fixtures. We look at this period of games and we're playing eight or nine of the top ten. We have to do the best we can do. We want to keep the season alive.”

Last season’s fixture saw Slough return home with the points after a 2-1 win in which they scored in the first and last minute through Matt Lench and David Ogbonna with Ebbsfleet United loanee Nathan Odokonyero netting an equaliser midway through the first half. This was revenge for the visitors who had been soundly beaten by 5-2 in the reverse fixture in September 2023.

To find an Angels win at Longmead against Slough you have to trawl back to 2006 and the Isthmian League Premier when goals from Scott Kinch, Adam O’Neill and Jon Main secured a 3-2 victory.

Davies, who plays in central defence, will have in his squad the familiar name of Johnny Goddard, who rejoined Slough from Boreham Wood recently and is just finding his match fitness again. Slough's front line will include Francis Amartey who returned to the club in the summer for a third spell. He has also played for Aldershot Town and Hampton & Richmond, as well as a spell in the Scottish Championship with Ayr United. The aforementioned Ogbonna, who plays wide, signed in 2023 after netting more than 30 goals in two seasons for Hertford Town, while top scorer Slavi Spasov, who has 11 league and cup goals this season, joined from Hungerford Town in 2023. He was born in Bulgaria but has lived in the UK since he was 12.

Admission prices to the game are: Adults £17; Concessions £14; Youths £7 and Under-12’s free with accompanying adult with tickets available HERE

Gates open at 1 pm with the Sports Bar and Marquee Bar open from the outset. The Tea Hut serving burgers, hot dogs, butties, hot and cold drinks and Fries Like An Angel, serving all your favourite loaded chips are also open from 1 pm. The Pie Shack opens from 1.30 pm. After the game, the Sports Bar will be open, where for a Happy Hour, there will be £1 off all pints of draught lagers and ciders.

Our award-winning programme is available from the Programme Hut, priced at £3 and will feature reflections from Jay Saunders, club captain Scott Wagstaff, board member Mark Cornish with reports from our men’s and women’s first team games plus youth teams.

Sponsoring the game will be George Kelly (pictured) who will be here today celebrating his 16th birthday with friends and family. His favourite Angels player is Scott Wagstaff. He also supports Watford, who are having a similar season to the Angels. George plays centre back for his local team Otford United.

Enjoy the game!