Superb Slough

SLOUGH TOWN quickly washed away the memories of Saturday's defeat against Barton Rovers when they produced one of their best performances this season to comprehensively beat local rivals Staines at Wheatsheaf Lane on Tuesday evening in the Berger Isthmian League, Premier Division.

Rebels' manager Laurie Churchill dropped Dave Russell and Barry Friend from the Barton match, and brought in Terry Reardon and Keith White, and White was one of the players instrumental in setting up Slough's victory. He had his best game since joining the club from Burnham in pre-season.

From the start the Slough players showed the commitment that perhaps has been lacking in their recent performances, and this contributed to them playing some superb football which at times was only spoilt by poor finishing. Such was the Rebels' domination that goalkeeper Frank Parsons never really had a shot to save in the entire match, while Slough had 12 corners and Staines managed two.

Before Slough took the lead, after 44 minutes, they had threatened from the start they came agonisingly close on two occasions. After 21 minutes a corner from White was powerfully met by Eggie James. However his header hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down on the line, and although Micky O'Sullivan finally put the ball home, the effort was disallowed by the referee for an infringement.

Then 10 minutes later it seemed that Slough could not fail to take the lead their football deserved. A cross from Pat Morrissey was headed across the face of the goal by James, and it appeared that Micky Kiely only had to touch the ball home. However, somehow goalkeeper Rick Collier and defender Ken Collins the ball broke Steve Norman fired wide of a virtually empty goal.

This incident seemed to make Slough all the more determined to score, and one minute from the interval the vital goal came. A fine ball from Morrissey set O'Sullivan clear on the right of the Staines penalty area and the Slough skipper cracked it home into the far corner of the net.

The second half saw Slough produce some of their best football this season, with the midfield completely in control and setting up a string of promising moves that had the shaky Staines defence in constant trouble. Twice Morrissey came close to adding a second goal, before Kiely netted after 55 minutes.

James and Morrissey cleverly worked the ball down the left flank before setting O'Sullivan clear. His well hit low cross again had the Staines defence in trouble, and Kiely had the simple task of knocking the ball into an empty net.

Although for a period after this goal Slough lost some of their earlier domination, there seemed little danger of Staines scoring despite the efforts of their lively substitute Jester Williams. The home side's best chance fell to Peter Kemp after 67 minutes, but from a good position he headed well wide.

In the last 15 minutes it was Slough who always looked the more likely side to score again, and both Kiely and Morrissey had good chances to further emphasise the Rebels overall domination.

Throughout the match Slough showed the type of commitment and flair that has been missing from their game in recent weeks, and it was also the perfect tonic after the disappointment of Saturday.