Worst Performance Yet Under Reardon

"This was one of the worst performances for a long time by a Slough Town side" was how Rebels manager Terry Reardon described his team's abysmal performance at Church Road, Hayes, on Tuesday evening.

And that certainly was the general feeling amongst Slough supporters as they saw their side fall to their second successive Berger Isthmian League, Premier Division defeat in the space of three days.

But where as at Sutton, on Saturday the Rebels had gone down fighting, in this latest performance they showed little appetite for the task in hand and as Reardon said: "We were lucky we did not get a good hammering."

Only Hayes inability to convert a hatful of chances kept the Rebels in the game at half-time, however, after the break the home side were not so lenient on Slough and scored twice to secure a fully deserved victory.

The amazing thing about this Slough performance was the total lack of commitment the side displayed throughout. The whole team generally looked lethargic and rarely strung together a decent move throughout the whole 90 minutes.

Reardon said afterwards: "I thought the standard of football from both sides was abysmal.

"To come second in a game of such low standards was just not good enough."

Hayes always held the upper hand throughout playing some neat touch football and consistently catching the Slough defence with some fine long balls for their forwards to run onto.

Meanwhile the Slough defence looked, vulnerable every time Hayes attacked, the midfield displayed none of their usual fighting spirit, and the forward line was virtually non-existent.

In the first half only a number of squandered chances prevented Hayes from taking a deserved lead. Micky Howell headed against the post when in a good position; Derek Doyle missed with only Frank Parsons to beat and then after 22 minutes only a superb double save from the SIough goalkeeper foiled first Keith Morris and then Doyle.

However, eight minutes into the second half Hayes went ahead. A 50 yard ball from Dave Byrne, deep in his own half, again split the Slough defence and with Steve Hardwick caught out Doyle ran on to fire past Parsons.

Even this did little to raise Slough's game although only a brilliant one handed save around the post by Graham Watson foiled a Joe Moloney header which was bound for the top corner of the net a minute later.

With 68 minutes gone Eric Young limped off to be replaced by Rowan Dodds, and eight minutes later Hayes made virtually certain of victory with a second goal.

It all started with a quick break down the left and after Howell had missed a good chance and the Slough defence had failed to clear the danger, Byrne fired home just inside the near post from about 15 yards.

Slough then did stage a late rally and Dave Russell missed a good chance with only Watson to beat, before Moloney — who was by far the Rebels' best player scored with a powerful header from a Barry Friend corner in the dying minutes.