Slough Slump Continues

Slough Town's recent slump in form continued at Wexham Park, on Saturday, when they went down to their third Berger Isthmian League, Premier Division home defeat this season, against a lively Billericay side.

As against Hungerford the previous week, the Rebels turned in another thoroughly disappointing performance, and they can have few complaints about a workman-like Billericay side returning to Essex with the three points, thanks to a 59th minute goal from Ian Salisbury.

While Slough's defence again gave another solid display, the midfield and forwards were desperately out of touch, and throughout the entire 90 minutes Billericay goalkeeper Mark McCutchen was rarely troubled or called into action.

In fact Slough did not really create one clear cut chance during the game and it was a Billericay side who showed far more commitment, endeavour and a stronger will to win that always looked the more dangerous of the two teams.

After his recent suspension Eric Young returned to the Slough side, playing in midfield, while young Francis Araguez kept his place at right back and gave another highly promising performance.

The blustery conditions and hard pitch made life difficult for both sides and the early action was mainly confined to the midfield area. After 14 mintues a neat Slough move on the left ended with McCutchen pushing away a dangerous Barry Friend cross at the far post.

With the diminutive 18 year-old Steve Jones, playing only his second first team game, prominent in the Billericay midfield. Parsons had to come quickly off his line to first foil Salisbury and then minutes later Doug Young.

Slough's best chance of the half fell to Dylan Evans, after a superb long ball from Araquez caught the Billericay defence out. But the Slough striker never got the ball under control and eventually McCutchen easily foiled the danger.

After the interval the Rebels still struggled desperately to find their touch, and after 59 minutes it was Billericay who took the lead. The goal all stemmed from a poor back pass by Friend, which eventually led to a corner on the right from which Salisbury got in at the near post unmarked to head crisply into the net.

Minutes later it took a marvellous one-handed save around the post by Parsons to keep out a header from Dave Groom, and then after 64 minutes Russell Kean fired over when clean through, after a superb ball from Jones had split the Slough defence.

With 20 minutes left Eggie James replaced Evans but he could do little to lift Slough's game, and despite forcing a string of corners in the dying seconds, the Rebels' never really looked liked scoring and salvaging anything from the match.

To complete another disappointing afternoon for Slough, they were forced to play the last 15 minutes with only 10 men, when central defender Joe Moloney limped off after injuring his right ankle when turning awkwardly.