First Defeat For Reardon

Terry Reardon tasted defeat for the first time since he took over as Slough Town manager when the Rebels went down to defeat at Berger Isthmian League, Premier Division leaders Sutton United on Saturday.

And the man who also ended Slough's unbeaten away record this season was Sutton substitute Ian Parsons — brother of the Rebels' goalkeeper Frank Parsons — who scored his sides winning goal after 69 minutes.

Memories of the epic evening last season at Gander Green Lane when the Rebels clinched the championship were still in the thoughts of the large contingent of Slough supporter's who made the trip to Sutton on Saturday.

And when right on the stroke of half-time Dave Russell put the Rebels ahead — for his seventh goal of the season — a repeat of last season's tremendous win looked a distinct possibility.

Steve Hardwick found Barry Friend wide on the left, his cross in turn found Keith White at the near post and after White's effort had been blocked on the line Russell prodded the ball home despite the desperate effort of Bobby Green to clear off the line.

It was a lead that Slough just about deserved, in a first half which saw both sides play some fine constructive fast flowing attacking football with the Rebels' defence containing Sutton's lively forward line well and continually catching them out with their well marshalled offside ploy.

But after the Rebels had made a bright start to the second half with both Russell and Rowan Dodds going close, Sutton suddenly hit back and at last started to produce the kind of display one would expect from a side currently seven points clear at the top of the table.

After 46 minutes they got themselves back on level terms when a long throw from Tony Rains was bundled into the net by John Rains at the far post.

And then nine minutes later Sutton manager Barrie Williams made the substitution which was to end Slough's nine match unbeaten run in the league, when Parsons replaced fellow striker Mark Jonas.
It took just four minutes for this substitution to pay dividends for the home side when with virtually his first touch of the ball Parsons scored past his brother Frank.

The goal resulted from a tremendous 30 yard shot by Micky Joyce out on the left which Frank Parsons managed to push onto the post only to see his brother joyfully net the rebound from about 10 yards out and push Slough towards only their second league defeat this season.

From this stage onwards Sutton took complete control with Ray Sunnicks causing the Slough defence all kinds of problems on the right with his silky skills and devastating bursts of speed.

However, it could all have been so different had Eric Young scored the easiest of chances eight minutes before Sutton's second goal. But after neat approach work by Hardwick and Les Barrett on the right, Young completely miskicked from five yards with virtually an open goal in front of him.

But then winning matches is all about who scores the most goals at the end of the day, and while for almost two-thirds of this game Slough were equal if not better than Sutton it was the home side who took their two chances when it really mattered.