Billericay beaten

Terry Reardon's "young Rebels" got off to the perfect start when they commenced their new Isthmian League, Premier Division campaign with a victory over Billericay Town at Wexham Park on Saturday.

Although it took this highly talented youthful looking Slough side a long time to settle into any real pattern of play, once they did they always looked the likely winners, and in the finish could have won by a more convincing margin.

Speaking after the game, Rebels manager Reardon said he was not entirely happy with the team's performance.

"We made a lot of silly mistakes, and some of the youngsters seemed overawed by the occasion and lacked pace at the start." However he added, "In the last 20 minutes I thought we showed some good touches, and I am certainly pleased to start the season with a win."

Before one of the smallest crowds ever seen at Wexham Park for an opening league game of the season, both sides struggled to find their way in a scrappy first half. With both teams placing a great emphasis on youth in their line-ups, the pace of the game was at times fast and furious, and consequently the football served up was not of the highest standard.

After five minutes Dave Russell went close with a curling free kick which flew just wide of the post, while Billericay's best opening of the half fell to Steve Jones after 16 minutes.

A moment's indecision in the Rebels defence by Joe Moloney left the diminutive Jones in the clear, but Frank Parsons was equal to the Billericay's player's first effort and he then put the rebound wide of the target.

Following a stern half-time talking to from Reardon, we saw a different Slough side after the interval and playing with great fire and commitment they started to put Billericay under considerable pressure.

Dylan Evans fired wide from a good position after 53 minutes, and then six minutes later the first league goal this season at Wexham Park came. It was fitting that the two players who probably contributed most to the Rebels fine second-half display should be involved. Keith White made a surging run down the left and his cross found Devon Petty in the Billericay penalty area.

Petty neatly turned one defender and after his first shot had been blocked by 'keeper Mark McCutcheon, he bravely followed up to score from the rebound. Slough now looked in total control and White just failed to convert a Dave Russell cross at the far post.

However against the run of play a sloppy piece of defensive play by the normally reliable Eric Young let Billericay back into the match. Having coolly cut out a dangerous looking Billericay attack, Young then lost the ball to Jones who sent Doran through. And the visitors striker calmly placed the ball past the advancing Parsons to level the scores.

However within a minute Young made the perfect reply to his error, when unmarked he rose above the Billericay defence at the near post to head home a White corner.

The last 15 minutes saw Slough come close on several occasions to making the game completely safe, and it took a fine one handed save from McCutcheon to keep out a Russell header, while the improving Alan Paris sent a scorching shot just over the crossbar. Considering the lack of experience in the Rebels side, and the fact that the team had barely played together before, it was an impressive display and one that augers well for the future.