Quality goals stun Staines

Two second half goals of real class and quality took Slough Town to another impressive victory on Tuesday evening, and extended the Rebels' unbeaten Servowarm Isthmian League, Premier Division unbeaten run to 10 matches this season.

After a dull and somewhat scrappy first half Slough really came to life after the interval, and goals from Gary Attrell, who had a truly outstanding match, and substitute Rowan Dodds sunk a disappointing Staines side who never really looked likely to threaten the Rebels' proud unbeaten record.

With Wycombe Wanderers beating Hendon 1-0, Slough stay second two points behind their great rivals but with six matches in hand.

Much of Slough's troubles in the first half stemmed from the fact that they could not acclimatise to the surface of Staines' newly renovated pitch - which was being used for the first time since it was closed down by the league in August.

The usual majestic touch play of Vaughan Powell, Devon Petty, Keith White and Alan Paris time and time again broke down as the ball ran slowly off the spongy surface and bobbled around. Consequently the Rebels' midfield never got their usual firm grip on the game during the first 45 minutes.

Meanwhile Staines also appeared to struggle and apart from several dangerous darting runs by the impressive Declan Link never really put the Slough defence under any real pressure.

White saw a thunderous shot cleared off the line by Kevin Collins, while Petty on several occasions jinked his way into good shooting positions but then lacked the final finish. However, after the interval from looking a very disorientated and ordinary side the Rebels suddenly burst into life.

With Attrell spearheading the attack with a string of scintillating bursts through the Staines defence it looked only a matter of time before Slough would achieve the breakthrough. And, after on three separate occasions Attrell had come desperately close to scoring the young Slough striker finally netted the goal that his tremendous endeavour on the night deserved.

There seemed little danger when a long ball was collected by Collins on the edge of the Staines penalty area, but Attrell put the defender under pressure; robbed him of the ball and from an acute angle superbly curled a shot past former Slough goalkeeper Richard Teale into the far corner of the net.

This goal seemed to bring Staines out of their shell, and they prompted several attacks which caused some uneasy moments in the Slough defence. However, at the end of the day, the polished Eric Young was usually on hand to stifle the danger.

It did, however, take a marvellous save by Frank Parsons to foil Link on 70 minutes when his shot looked a goal all the way before Slough increased their lead after 73 minutes. Paris, who once again under the scrutiny of a number of Football League scouts had a storming second half, won the ball just inside the Staines half and it fell to Dylan Evans.

He sent a fine ball out to Dodds, who had replaced a sadly out of touch Powell some 13 minutes earlier, and the striker cracked the ball past Teale for his 10th goal this season.

Slough were now in total control and with Attrell continuing to threaten the Staines defence, despite being troubled by a groin strain, and Dodds looking particularly lively the Rebels could well have added to their lead- but despite several near misses no further goals were forthcoming.