Rebels point to keeper's saves

Slough Town

Slough Town

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Whyteleafe

Whyteleafe

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League Attendance: 380 Veli Hakki
Slough were left wondering how they only managed to gain a point from this game after they carved out a succession of first half chances. The struggling Surrey side could have been dead and buried inside the opening ten minutes as only keeper Danny Rose stood between Rebels and a rout.

The Leafe stopper was in inspired form as he kept out all that was thrown at him with Neville Roach and Michael Bartley the main culprits for missing chances.

With the goalless draw Rebels have slipped a place in the table and they face a tough test this Saturday when they visit long time Division One leaders Aylesbury United.

Rebels have met Aylesbury twice this season and the Ducks have come out on top both times, scoring three times in the last six minutes to snatch the points in the league back in October then securing a 2-0 FA Trophy success at Wexham Park a fortnight later.

But the Ducks have shown some vulnerability recently as they have surrendered points and on Saturday they lost the lead in the table when they were beaten 1-0 at Yeading.

Cliff Hercules' side will be looking to get back to winning ways with the visit of the Rebels who have failed to score in their last two games.

On Saturday, a signing embargo from the FA meant that on-loan keeper Dominique Jean-Zepherin was prevented from playing.

With Steve Mautone still a fortnight away from fitness, it led to the sight of full back Anthony Howard donning the goalkeeper jersey for the Rebels.

It wasn't that strange a decision as the former Fulham trainee had started out at Craven Cottage in that position before making the switch outfield.

And fortunately for the Rebels, he wasn't tested at all in the 90 minutes, just seeing a header from Nigel Colley fly several yards wide of the upright early in the first half.

Most of the first half goal action was in the visitors' box with Rebels squandering three chances inside the opening ten minutes.

Roach saw Rose deny him in a one on one after just 48 seconds then Veli Hakki burst in behind the visitors back three minutes later, saw Rose also deny him.

Neat play from Michael Gilkes put Bartley through down the left before he cut in and saw his low shot saved at the near post by Rose.

The ex-Reading man then delivered a cross to the near post the Bartley flicked wide before a diving header from Hakki went straight into Rose's hands

But Rebels worst miss came seven minutes before the break when Hakki's neat turn wrong footed the defence before playing in Bartley but the striker shot tamely at Rose.

The second half saw the visitors have more of the ball as the swirling wind favoured them more but they were unable to really test the back four of Steve Daly, Steve Stott, Keith McPherson and Paul Barrowcliff.

Late on, Steve Browne went with three upfront but the move failed to create any worthwhile openings.

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