That's Better Les

Yeovil Town

Yeovil Town

0
Slough Town

Slough Town

2
Peters (8), Fiore (51)
League Attendance: 2021 Mark Fiore
To his credit when the pressure was at its greatest and the knives were out from all angles, Slough boss Les Briley held his nerve, took the biggest gamble of his brief managerial career and then watched his hunch pay off, handsomely.

More than anyone Briley will have been aware that some at the club would have questioned his decision to drop top scorer Morrys Scott, but he got it absolutely right.

Mark Fiore joined Andy Sayer as an out an out striker and revelled in the role he likes best of all. With Sayer also in irrepressible mood, the pair linked quite delightfully and caused Yeovil no end of problems.

With new man Dale Wright making his debut in the heart of Slough's defence alongside the restored Brian Lee, Ian Hazel was able to move back into his preferred role in midfield with Mark Quamina switching to the right hand side, where he has looked so good on previous outings.

With so many good things happening around him, Paul Manning's confidence came flooding back and he had his best game for some time, often dictating the pace of the game.

Quite comfortably this was Slough's best away showing of the campaign. Indeed it was only their second league win on their travels, the first way back in August on the opening day of the season at Stalybridge Celtic. It was also only the second win of the year and the three points moved Slough up four places into 12th.

They are of course still in a lot of trouble, but on this form they have little to worry about, certainly the immediate concerns are all Yeovil's.

Like Slough and Dagenham and Redbridge they were expected to challenge for honours this season and something has gone seriously wrong. On Saturday they were very poor and scarcely threatened Trevor Bunting in the Slough goal.

Funnily enough, Bunting who has looked as competent as anyone at Slough this season appeared edgy at Yeovil, fumbling a couple of crosses in Matthew Maynard like style, but the home side never looked likely to punish him. Free scoring Mickey Spencer was closely watched by Wright, who though not especially tall won everything in the air with an encouraging appetite for attacking the ball when it came near him.

Slough got the ideal start when Sayer picked out the run of Robbie Peters and the speedy winger cleverly volleyed the ball over a surprised Coles giving Town an eighth minute advantage. Peters should have got another two minutes later but chipped over and Sayer's 25 yard drive brought a fine save from Coles.

Slough were in command and continued in a similar vain into the second half, on 51 minutes Sayer and Fiore combined on the right hand side and Fiore cutting in smashed a low shot past Coles for the second.

Slough seemed to ease off somewhat after that, but the game was won and Briley the gambler was a happy or perhaps that should he a happier man.

Mark Fiore was quick to praise Paul Manning for his contribution to a valuable win. "Paul's taken a lot of stick from different people and in my opinion it has been totally unnecessary. On Saturday he was superb - the best player on the pitch."

Fiore , one of only two ever-presents in the Slough side this season - the other is Trevor Bunting - added that assistant manager Martin Hinchelwood had made a difference.

"All the players feel Martin has helped them, the confidence is coming back and at Yeovil all the players ran their hearts out, it felt good again."

Yeovil Town Lineup

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