Slough Keep Unbeaten Record

After being totally dominated for the first 45 minutes at Boreham Wood on Tuesday evening, Slough Town staged a brave second half comeback and a goal from Les Barrett - his first for the club - helped maintain their unbeaten record this season.

In recent years the Rebels' visits to Broughinge Road have not proved to be successful - with their last three matches there all ending in defeat.

And during the first half it looked as though this trend might continue as Slough were swept aside by some scintillating one touch football from the home side.

Both sides went into this match with unbeaten records, but it was a much changed Boreham Wood side from last season which immediately caught the eye from the start.

Their tactics of playing one-touch football at a startling pace never allowed Slough to settle into their normal pattern of play. Consequently the defence were consistently under pressure, the midfield could not get a firm hold on the match and this meant few attacks were mounted which really threatened the Boreham Wood defence in the first half.

After six minutes a high cross from the right was headed down by Steve Smith and from the loose ball a mis-directed back pass from Dave Yerby forced Frank Parsons to make a desperate save at the base of the post to prevent a goal. And, from the resultant corner it took a fine goal-line clearance by Eggie James to foil Smith.

One of Slough's few chances in the first half fell to Micky Kiely one minute later. But after neat approach work by Barrett and James he mis-hit his shot wide of the target from a good position.

Continually Boreham Wood's tactics of long sweeping balls out of defence to both flanks spelt danger and on several occasions these gave the Slough defence some anxious moments.

With 20 minutes gone Smith, who had an outstanding match, went close with a well struck shot and then a minute later the goal Boreham Wood had been threatening to score came.

A free kick on the left was floated in by Kevin Hull and Smith, darting in at the near post, headed home despite a desperate effort by James on the line.

Just before the interval Smith had a chance to put his side further in command after Steve Archer won a challenge with Dave Yerby and sent his colleague through. But Yerby recovered superbly, and a moment's hesitation from Smith allowed him to block the strikers' effort.

However, after the interval it was Slough who started to dictate affairs. The midfield trio of Barrett, Keith White and Micky O'Sullivan took control and with Joe Moloney and Vic Akers keeping the lively Smith and Archer quiet there was more opportunity for James and Kiely to probe the Boreham Wood defence.

And after 49 minutes Slough were back on level terms. A high ball into the penalty area by Akers was knocked down by Kiely and after Barrett's first effort appeared to be blocked he seized on the loose ball and turned it home past Steve Waller from close range and in a confined space.

Apart from one scare minutes later when a lob from Alan Jackett beat Parsons but dropped just over the bar, it was the Rebels who always looked more likely to score a winning goal.

With 20 minutes left Neil Pettifer, who again gave another spirited display limped off to be replaced by Rowan Dodds, with White switching to left back and Kiely dropping back into midfield.

It was Kiely who, on two occasions in the final three minutes, came desperately close to snatching a winner. First a powerful downward header was pushed away for a corner by Waller, and then in the dying seconds he outpaced the Boreham defence. following a pass from White, and saw his final effort run agonisingly across the goal and just past the far post.

On reflection Slough can be well satisfied with this point. The first half honours went to Boreham Wood who really produced some splendid football at a startling pace, but after the interval Laurie Churchill's side started to control the game and play it at their pace and were almost rewarded with the three points.