Rebels Come Good When It Matters

Slough Town's preseason form has been disappointing to say the least but all manager Terry Reardon's earlier worries were swept aside as the Rebels started their Servowarm Isthmian League, Premier Division campaign with this stylish win at Granleigh Road on Saturday.

Although it took Slough some time to find their feet on another scorching hot summer's day, slowly but surely they took control of the game with Keith White and Rowan Dodds scoring the vital goals in the second half.

This was a thoroughly competent display by the Rebels in every department and made something of a mockery of the kind of form they produced in their build up to Saturday's opening league encounter.

Dave Russell and Rowan Dodds looked sharp up front: Devon Petty displayed endeavour and craft in midfield and was admirably complemented by the deft touches and long range passing ability of Keith White and Dave Alexander.

And while at times Trevor Baron, understandably, looked a little out of touch with his new colleagues he showed enough to prove what a useful acquisition he will be for Slough.

However, the real success story was the defence. This youthful element of the Rebels lineup kept Leystonstone well in check with Eddie Hutchinson solid at left back, Peter Skerritt and David O'Flaherty superbly dominant in the centre and coming through his debut at 18-yearold Steve Proctor right back with flying colours.

But it was goalkeeper Peter Rackley who was the real Slough hero in the opening 15 minutes as he twice denied Leytonstone the chance of taking over the game with brilliant saves. After just four minutes he produced a flying save to keep out Steve Edkin's well placed header after a precise cross from Joe Amoah, and then seven minutes later was quickly off his line to foil Amoah after the diminutive winger had broken clear.

These early scares did not upset the Rebels however, and they bounced back to put Leytonstone under some pressure. It was Russell who twice came desperately close to opening Slough's scoring account for the new season.

On 14 minutes he saw a brilliant shot on the turn from 20 yards clawed away for a corner by Jacobs, and then after linking delightfully with Alexander, failed to fully 'accept the Rebels' best chance of the half.

Petty's skill was now starting to cause Leytonstone some concern and when his carefully weighted pass sent Dodds through the Slough striker was blatantly obstructed by Ritchie Empson inside the penalty area.

The referee awarded a free kick but the chance from some 12 yards out was wasted with White firing the ball straight into the Leytonstone wall.

But Slough finally got the vital breakthrough their inventive play deserved after 49 minutes when, with the Leytonstone defence in chaos White stole in to clip the ball past Jacobs from close range.

Slough then had chances to wrap the game up but Alexander failed with only Jacobs to beat and Dodds put the ball over from five yards out following a searching low cross from White.

It was Leytonstone substitute Billy Flannigan who was to cause Slough their most anxious moments but after a period when the Rebels started to look a little ragged they bounced back to again stamp their authority on the game.

Dodds set off on several surging runs through the Leystonstone defence which came desperately close to producing a goal before on 82 minutes Slough settled the issue. Hutchinson intelligently the Leytonstone defence took a quick throw, leaving totally exposed, which released Alexander on the left and showing all his experience he played the ball square for Dodds to crash home from 10 yards, despite the despairing efforts of Jacobs.

Ten minutes from time David Lloyd had replaced. the tiring Proctor with Petty moving back into defence and when the young striker did get a chance to show his skills he was crudely brought down by Tommy Horan, an act which earnt the Leytonstone skipper a caution.