Super Slough

It took Slough just three minutes to impose their superiority on Tuesday’s big derby clash and they proceeded to batter the Royals in to submission – on what proved to be a night of total disaster for Laurie Craker’s high-flying team.

The night belonged to Howard Kennedy's Rebels as some 1,500 people at Wexham Park were treated to a never to be forgotten game unless perhaps you were a Windsor supporter.

Agatha Christie might have been hard pushed to have produced a better thriller than this long-awaited Vauxhall-Opel League, Premier Division clash between the two high-flying local rivals.

For Slough it was a night of unprecedented glory and from a team of heroes striker Dean Woodley hit the big time with a match-winning display on surely the greatest night of his football career.

But for league leaders Windsor there was nothing but gloom as things went from bad to worse. Not only were they outplayed by Slough, losing their proud nine-match unbeaten start to the season, but they also suffered a series of crippling injury blows.

Star winger Mark Franks was carried off in the first half; six minutes from time, goalkeeper Kevin Mitchell left the field on a stretcher and midfielder Jeff Chapman was left hobbling with an ankle injury.

It was by no means a dirty game; just a typical local derby clash which had just about everything any football fan could ask for. Slough were certainly the kings on the night. Apart from their three goals they twice plundered the Royals' crossbar, had another effort disallowed and missed yet another penalty.

While Slough gave their most committed display this season the Royals were strangely inept and outplayed in just about every department, as they never raised the usual fire and enthusiasm one has come to expect from them.

On Boxing Day last year it was Windsor who pulverised the Rebels, this time there was a complete turnaround with another early goal setting the trend for things to come. Unable to gain a regular starting spot in the Rebels line-up, Woodley was thrown into the big time in the post from close range with a little over three minutes on the clock.

Slough were not completely fired up but on 10 minutes Windsor had probably their best chance of the match. Laurie Craker's astute pass put Jeff Chapman in on the right but, with John Granville advancing he shot wide of the far post.

It became clear Woodley had his golden boots on when he scored goal number two on 21 minutes. From a free kick on the edge of the Windsor penalty area he saw his shot slip under the body of Kevin Mitchell and go inside the post to put the Rebels in total command.

Minutes later a hat-trick beckoned for Woodley but his chip over Mitchell went wide and the Royals' 'keeper made a superb one-handed save to foil a Steve Norman header.

By now Windsor were desperate. Mark Davies and Chris Yates were bottled up by the superb Jeff Bateman and Tony Knight while the midfield was unable to get any stranglehold on the game as Slough pressurized them in to mistakes.

Windsor suffered a further blow when speedy winger Franks was carried off with a bad knee injury on 33 minutes, then six minutes later, from a superb move, Slough had the ball In the net.

Devon Petty released Wilson on the right, his cross just eluded Woodley but found the feet of Rowan Dodds who crashed the ball home. However, Woodley had run into an offside position and the effort was ruled out.

Any hopes of another Windsor second half revival were stunned when Slough created a superb third goal after 48 minutes. Once again it was the combination of Woodley and Wilson which did the damage. From the halfway line Woodley played a superb ball to Wilson, who ran clear and then coolly beat Mitchell for his first goal since the opening day of the season.

Windsor's one moment of brief glory then came on 51 minutes. Bob King’s pass found Chapman and as he cut inside White, he was brought down and from the penalty spot the reliable Jimmy Walsh made no mistake. But Windsor could not build on this and within minutes Wilson was rattling the Royals’ crossbar with a header White’s right wing cross.

Davies and Yates tried hard to create something up front for Windsor but it was in midfield that the game was won and lost. Petty, White and Jimmy Jacobs ran themselves into the ground for Slough, never giving their rival counterparts a look-in.

And on 67 minutes Slough could even afford the luxury of another missed penalty. Rowan Dodds was brought down by Mark Woods and Jacobs became the latest in a long line of penalty kick failures when he shot straight at Mitchell and the ball flew high off the ‘keeper’s legs.

One piece of silky skill from Trevor Baron raised Windsor hearts before his shot was saved by Granville and then, a Wilson run the ball broke to White, whose blockbuster shot cannoned off the crossbar.

Windsor’s night of misery was completed in the closing minutes when in an unfortunate incident with Dodds, ‘keeper Mitchell was carried off the field in great pain after both players challenged for a through ball. He was later taken by ambulance to hospital. John Mitchell, no relation, took over in goal but was not really troubled in the closing minutes.

There was little consolation for Windsor from this game but Mark Woods' performance in a hard pressed defence stood out and the Royals still lead the Premier Division table by four points.

For Slough's part this was their best home display of the season and they certainly gave the kind of performance boss Howard Kennedy had demanded of them beforehand.