Makowski nets against old club but Slough Town are beaten by Heathens in pre-season

Wiktor Makowski netted against his former club at Wilks Park. Photo: Lewis Gilpin

--

Results are usually irrelevant in pre-season matches, but there was a surprising one on Saturday afternoon as National League South side Slough Town were beaten 3-1 away by step four outfit Flackwell Heath.

The pre-season match was notable for the fact that former Heathen striker Wiktor Makowski notched his second goal in Rebels colours following his summer departure from Wilks Park.

In warm, humid conditions, a Rebels squad that again included several Elite Development Squad (EDS) players were given a real test by their lower-level hosts.

Flackwell had been comfortably swept aside 4-0 by Slough’s league rivals Maidenhead United in mid-week but they looked much sharper in their second pre-season game despite making a slow start.

The Rebels began the game promisingly, with Nnaemeka Anyanwu neatly skipping inside his marker before playing the ball through for Makowski who couldn’t quite turn the ball past the Flackwell keeper.

The hosts took the lead in the 12th minute through a well-taken free kick and the visitors suffered another blow when Aaron White was forced off with an injury to be replaced by Armani Church.

Flackwell doubled their lead late in the half, but the game was a competitive one, and a fine flowing move involving a trialist, Makowski and Jaiden Drakes-Thomas resulted in an effort that drew a smart save from the Flackwell keeper.

Noah Hay then unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box which was tipped over the bar.

Slough got their only goal of the friendly just before the hour mark when Makowski was released by a ball over the top and he blasted home to make it 2-1.

His emphatic finish looked to have wrestled momentum back for the visitors, but Flackwell were able to restore their two-goal cushion.

Second goal of pre-season for @YBwiktor earlier this afternoon

@lewisgilps_ #OneSlough pic.twitter.com/xjhRuIEBjP

— Slough Town FC (@sloughtownfc) July 12, 2025

Yehor Lomov came close with another strike from distance for Slough, but the second half was largely disrupted by the rolling substitutions being made by both teams.

First Team Coach Ryan Case even stepped in late on to replace Peter Ojemen as Slough looked to manage minutes across the squad.

Slough are back in pre-season action when they host Brentford’s B team at Arbour Park tomorrow evening (Tuesday).

Marlow were also beaten by lower-level opposition in their friendly match on Saturday as the Blues went down to a 2-1 defeat against Burnham at the 1878 Stadium.

The Combined Counties Premier Division North hosts got the better of their step 4 Southern League Central Division visitors, taking the lead in the first half and holding on for a 2-1 win in the second.

Shyon Dennis scored the first for Burnham with Deluxe Mwengula adding their second after the break.

The result of the game is immaterial for both sides as they look to continue building the fitness and sharpness of their players in these testing conditions, however, Burnham’s joint manager Omar Ba