Double

Rowan Dodds chose the perfect moment to score his first goal of the and leave Slough locked together with Windsor at the top of the Vauxhall-Opel League.

He stabbed the ball over the line 10 minutes from the end of Tuesday's game at Church Road to give the Rebels a victory they more than earned with a magnificent performance.

Slough could easily have scored the extra goal that would have edged them ahead of their neighbours on goal difference, but Kenny Wilson was denied a blatant penalty when the scores were level and Micky Kiely was rugby tackled by the 'keeper when poised to add the second.

Nevertheless, manager Howard Kennedy was justifiably delighted with a performance that, although it never reached the brilliance of the first half at Tooting, was more consistent throughout.

“If you play like that not many sides will beat you", he said contentedly. "Hayes were very motivated. They were a strong, capable side, who will probably finish in the top five. “To match them physically and come out on top in the last 25 minutes was a credit to our team. We played with a lot of commitment, everybody pulled their weight”.

Kennedy wasn't SO pleased with Hayes 'keeper Paul Hyde, who pulled down Kiely after the Rebels forward had raced on to Jimmy Jacobs' long ball and knocked it round him.

Hyde was booked, but Kennedy complained: “Things like that will be the ruination of football. It would have been 2-0 with five minutes to go, but he deliberately stopped him scoring”.

And of the 76th minute incident when Wilson burst into the area to be taken down from behind by Dave Silman, the Rebels boss said simply: "He definitely brought him down. It should have been a penalty”.

It took Slough only four more minutes, though, to make sure of the win. After Wilson's shot had been blocked at the corner of the box Keith White challenged and the ball ran to Jacobs. Hyde could only paw at his low, angled shot and Dodds won the race to stick it into the net.

Any team that can go to Hayes, the scene of many a dour struggle and make it an open game the way Slough did, are well worth three points.

They rose above the antics of yet another team in this league who are content to elbow, shove and trip their way to a result with a fluent style of football that was a pleasure to watch.

The one-touch move that saw Derek Harris, Jacobs, Steve Norman and Dodds take the ball from one end of the field to the other, ending with the penalty area trip on Wilson, was the kind of football that sides like Hayes seem to think should be confined to Roy of the Rovers comics.

The inspiration behind Slough’s display was Jacob's whose work rate and tenacity was matched by his vision on the ball and willingness to have a crack at goal. If Slough could only find someone to play with his authority in the centre of midfield it would be difficult to see anyone stopping them.

Dodds had a golden opening in the 28th minute when the ball broke to him six yards out from a Jacobs effort. But he put his shot in the only place where Hyde had a chance and the 'keeper made a fine reflex save.

Hayes only threatened through winger Noel Fletcher, who had a shot deflected wide and crossed for Byron Walton to force John Granville into a diving save.

By the time the second half arrived the Rebels were really beginning to turn it on. Jacobs lobbed a beautiful half volley on to the bar from 20 yards; then shot over from the same distance; and finally hit a screamer on the run from even further that was too hot for Hyde to hold.

In among those moments was a chance for White from Bateman's long ball, but he lost balance and mis-hit.

Despite all their efforts, Slough almost found themselves a goal down after 67 minutes when Bateman stumbled over the ball and trundled a weak back pass into the path of Keith Dunmore, who slipped the ball past Granville and watched in disbelief as it rolled outside the upright.

After Walton's booking for taking out Paul Gardham and Slough's penalty claim, Granville had to be at full stretch to get his hand to Fletcher's 78th minute drive at the foot of the post.

But two minutes later came Dodds' moment, the ovation prompting Slough were given by their overjoyed supporters at the final whistle. They deserved every last cheer.