Rebels blown home

In conditions more familiar to football than the tropical type weather which heralded the start of the season, Slough Town moved to their second Servowarm Isthmian League Premier Division win of the new campaign at Wexham Park on Saturday.

Well taken first half goals from Keith White and Henry Pacquette - his first for the Rebels- set up this Slough victory, although Terry Reardon's side made life slightly more difficult for themselves by allowing Leytonstone/Ilford back in the match by conceding a needless penalty just before the interval.

The gale force wind which whistled around Wexham Park and sent spectators scurrying for cover made things extremely difficult for both sides and at times the match was something of a lottery, as the conditions were hardly favourable to either teams hopes of playing constructive football.

Gary Attrell returned to the Rebels line-up as Reardon switched to a four-three-three combination for this home match with Pacquette and Mick Doherty joining Attrell up front.

Having lost most of last season's successful side Leytonstone are certainly not the force they were, and it was Slough who quickly got into their stride and started to take control of the match.

Mick Doherty soon tested Steve Baker with a well struck shot which brought a good save from the Leytonstone 'keeper and then after 25 minutes the Rebels went ahead from another of White's now famous free-kicks.

The moment the ball left the left foot of White, who was a real inspiration throughout for Slough, it had goal written all over it. This was just the tonic Slough needed and eight minutes later they went further ahead, White managed to push the ball wide to Pacquette, following Francis Araguez's cross from the right, and the Rebels new striker skilfully eluded his marker and then crashed the ball through the legs of Baker for goal number two.

It now looked as though the Rebels were going to run riot over Leytonstone, but six minutes from half-time they allowed the Essex side right back into the game by conceding a stupid penalty. Frank Parsons called for the ball as Araguez prepared to take a throw-in and this proved suicidal as Araguez's throw fell short of the Slough goalkeeper, and as Terry Harris intercepted the ball he was brought down by Parsons on the edge of the penalty area.

However, it looked as though the Rebels had been reprieved as Parsons flung himself to his right to save Ashley Griffiths' spot kick. But the referee adjudged Parsons had moved before the kick was taken and this time Harris stepped up and slammed the ball home.

The second half was just four minutes old when it looked as though Slough had once again established a two-goal cushion. Parsons long kick was carried by the wind over the top of the Leytonstone defence and Attrell, running through, neatly headed the ball over Baker for what seemed a certain goal. But, as the young striker turned away to celebrate his first goal of the season the wind seemed to hold the ball up and Tommy Horan recovered brilliantly to make a fine last ditch clearance off the line and Attrell had been denied.

Leytonstone now started to grow in the belief that perhaps they could salvage something from the match and caused Slough some anxious moments. Both Harris and John Bantick missed good chances as the Rebels defence went through a spell when they looked somewhat uncertain of themselves under pressure.

However, Slough also had their moments when they came close to increasing their lead, and a low driven cross from Mick Doherty just eluded Pacquette and then after 76 minutes Attrell saw a shot heading for the top corner of the net brilliantly tipped over the bar by Baker.

At the end of the day Slough were well worth their victory but one had the feeling that had they not conceded the penalty then the final score would have been a lot more convincing in their favour.