Rebels move top but.... It's a struggle

Despite losing their 100 per cent Isthmian League, Premier Division record at Woking on Saturday, the point Slough Town gained was enough to move them back on top of the table above Leytonstone/Ilford on goal difference.

However, it was a far from impressive performance by Terry Reardon's side, and at present the Rebels seem to be having difficulty in matching the confidence that they show at Wexham Park on opponents grounds.

Woking, who languish at the foot of the table, showed tremendous fight with a first half performance that knocked Slough right off their stride, only to give the Rebels a life-line with an own-goal on the stroke of half-time.

In the second half Slough, producing in flashes their best football should have put the issue beyond all doubt, but could make little of the chances that came to them on a disappointing afternoon.

Woking have recently strengthened their squad with former Slough player Les Barrett returning to the centre of the defence and performing immaculately against his old team-mates while Tony Martin, who has been in recent seasons possibly the best left back in the Isthmian League, was playing his first game in Woking's colours after a season's absence from Kingfield.

From the kick-off it became clear that Woking were conscious of their league position and were keen to show that they were afraid of no-one as they tackled with power that the Slough youngsters could not match, and it came as no surprise when they took the lead after 15 minutes with their first home goal in the league this season.

Mark Francis, who was a persistent thorn in the Slough defence throughout the match was given acres of space, and his low cross from the right was planted emphatically past Parsons from close range by Norman Rudd.

If this goal suggested a turning point in the game this was emphasised straight from the re-start. Keith White was felled inside the penalty area and the usually reliable Rowan Dodds failed with his spot kick.

Certainly Tony Webb moved before the kick was taken, but there was little doubt that it was a psychological disaster for Dodds whose confidence drained out of his boots for the remainder of the game.

Meanwhile, Woking stepped up the pressure and after some sloppy defensive play, John Cassidy hit a tremendous shot from 20 yards that Parsons tipped brilliantly over the bar.

The home side were now looking very confident and Francis Araguez came to Slough's rescue when he headed off the line for a corner. On the other hand Slough did build up some useful attacks, but with the ball failing to run for them they simply could not get into any shooting positions.

With half-time just seconds away Mick Sorenson lobbed the ball back to Tony Webb, who had advanced from his line, only to to see it fly over his outstretched fingertips and bounce gently into the net.

The second half saw Slough in a much better light, with Parsons joining the ranks of the unemployed for the most part.

Unfortunately Dylan Evans and Dodds were both out of touch and some glorious football failed to produce the necessary results. There was some superb stuff from the Slough midfield, and several times the home defenders were left for dead, but when the final touch was needed there was nobody there.

Alan Paris missed the easiest of chances with his head, Webb saved magnificently from Joe Moloney, and then appeared to hold Dodds down when he had the chance of an open goal.

Dave Yerby, back from holiday replaced Evans, with Eric Young moving into the attack but it was all to no avail. Near the end Paris fed White with a magnificent ball, the Slough captain hitting it so well that it looked a goal all the way. Unfortunately it struck the goalkeeper on the ankles and rebounded clear.

With the referee looking at his watch it seemed as though the game may yet have had an ironic twist as he awarded a free-kick just outside the Slough penalty area. Fortunately the home side took so long about it that time ran out and Slough breathed again to take their place rather unsteadily at the top of the table.