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The National League U19 Alliance
6th
19pts

From Despair To Where?

Slough Town

Slough Town

4
Sayer (18), West (42), Catlin (44), Bushay (58)
Bromley

Bromley

1
Brown (4-1)
League Attendance: 822 Andy Sayer
At Wokingham, we saw the Rebels at their very worst. Against Bromley, we saw something approaching their best.

Slough had little trouble in beating their title rivals for one simple reason they played as a team and they knew what they were doing.

All that is needed now, as the trenches are dug and the supplies brought in for the promotion battle, is what has been so lacking so far - consistency. Because all 11 Rebels on the pitch on Saturday looked determined to win - and they did.

That determination first showed itself in the 13th minute, as Catlin fought his way onto a clear shot on goal and hit the post with a rasping drive.

In the 14th minute, a superb ball from West set Bushay clear and his lob forced 'keeper Hayes to grab acrobatically at the ball.

It all paid off with a goal of exquisite class on 18 minutes. Sayer accelerated down the right and took the ball straight off his marker's foot in one of the many muddy patches on the pitch. One look up, one deft, perfectly-balanced 25 yard angled chip later and the ball was nestling in the back of the net and Wexham Park was erupting in a long overdue end-of-year celebration.

Slough maturely decided to sit back and build up slowly from the back to the front rather than put all their eggs in the one basket of all-out attack as they have recently. Bromley, for their part, looked more like a mid-table side, and Sayer's diving header on 38 minutes looped over the bar when a second punishment looked on the cards.

But as half-time drew near, the Rebels showed no respite. When West, having one of his better games of the season after recent form problems, was put one-on-one with the 'keeper he hesitated, picked his spot and sweetly drove the ball home.

Catlin's finish two minutes later for number three was simpler, as he sprinted from his own half and crashed it into the back of the net.

But as the second half began on a tidal wave of optimism, Bromley decided that maybe it was time to play a little. Twice, Antoine was allowed too much space and hit the crossbar on the first occasion before fluffing the second.

But on Saturday, we were watching a much-improved Slough side with fresh ideas and a real desire to fight for every ball and hit every half-chance into the back of the net - if only it was like that every week.

And Bushay, who really looked like he was making an effort, was the man to provoke celebration number four in the 58th minute, as he outstripped Adedeji for pace and made no mistake with the finish.

Bromley tried, but never came close. One scrappy goal was disallowed and a succession of corners brought nothing but frustration. A late consolation, with Brown sliding in after Gordon had caught Bunting unawares, was scant consolation.

But this was Slough's day and, rough edges accepted, a fine end to a year of few highlights.

1995 could well be a cause for celebration.

Bromley Lineup

Rebels

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