In a thrilling encounter at Brunel, Slough and Hayes played out a 5-5 draw in what will undoubtedly go down as one of the most thrilling matches of the season. Both teams displayed immense determination and resilience, with Hayes, the 2022 champions, mounting a remarkable second-half comeback only to be denied victory by a last-minute equaliser from Slough.

The game got off to a blistering start, with Slough taking the lead in just the 2nd minute. Arslan Bashir capitalised on a well-executed counter-attack, slotting the ball into the near post after a clever assist from Daniel Ahmad. The early pressure from Slough paid off again in the 7th minute, with Daniel Ahmed finding the net this time, assisted by Arslan, to make it 2-0.

Hayes, however, were quick to respond. Sheryar pulled one back in the 9th minute, narrowing the gap to 2-1. But Slough wasn’t done yet; Ridwan restored their two-goal cushion in the 14th minute, making it 3-1.

The first half continued to deliver as Hayes kept pressing. Salman, who would later be named Man of the Match, brought Hayes back into the game with a goal in the 17th minute, assisted by Sheryar, to make it 3-2. Hayes had a golden opportunity to level the score just before halftime with a penalty, but they couldn’t convert, leaving the score at 3-2 in favour of Slough at the break.

The second half saw Hayes come out with renewed energy. However, it was Slough who struck first, with Ridwan scoring his second of the match in the 27th minute, assisted by Daniel, to make it 4-2.

Hayes, undeterred, launched a fierce comeback. Salman scored twice more, in the 33rd and 35th minutes, completing his hat-trick and bringing the score level at 4-4. The momentum was now firmly with Hayes, and they took the lead for the first time in the match in the 45th minute through Mahir, making it 5-4.

With just minutes remaining, it looked like Hayes would complete their comeback and secure the win. But Slough had other ideas. In the 49th minute, Daniel Ahmad struck a dramatic equaliser to salvage a point for his team, ensuring the match ended in a 5-5 draw.

The match was a tale of two halves, with Slough dominating the first and Hayes storming back in the second. Despite the missed penalty at the end of the first half, Hayes showed great character to turn the game around, only to be denied by a last-minute goal from Slough. Both teams played with great discipline, with no yellow cards issued, and the match ended in a fair and hard-fought draw. Salman’s hat-trick and relentless effort earned him the Man of the Match award.