Cup Fighters

As a headmaster Howard Kennedy is a stickler for punctuality from his pupils but the Rebels boss will not be punishing his Slough Town players for their late, late show on Tuesday evening.

Because just when a spot of detention looked likely for the Rebels they set Wexham Park alive with two goals in the last ten minutes to snatch a game that previously looked dead and buried for them.

For 80 minutes Welling United outplayed Slough and looked set to take this of the fellowship FA Cup, third qualifying round replay and earn a home tie with Kingstonian.

Even John Bartley's deflected 47th minute goal didn't really raise Slough. And then in a pulsating final ten minutes the Rebels came back from the dead with goals from Kenny Wilson and "super sub" Micky Kiely to send the 750-plus crowd into raptures.

A delighted Kennedy said after the game: "That was the worst we have played all season. We looked down and out but all credit to the boys as all the training and hard work they have put in and their spirit finally saw us through. Although we were playing badly the lads kept fighting and at the end we ran Welling into the ground."

Kennedy continued: "This was a very good victory for Slough Town as Welling are a good side. Although we got a result on Saturday there was no way I thought we would win tonight. Young Paul Shannon did exceptionally well again. For a young boy to come into the side and not make a mistake is tremendous and he will remember these two games for the rest of his life. “

And what a job Shannon did for the rebels as he was twice thrown into the deep end and came out swimming with flying colors. But if there had to be a star over the two matches then central defender Jeff Bateman must take the honours with two of the most immaculate performances you will ever see from any player and how vital they were.

From the word go Welling looked particularly sharp with left winger David Smith again causing all kinds of problems and ace marksman Bartley more dangerous than he was on Saturday.

With Devon Petty down with 'flu, Tony Knight was switched to midfield and Paul Gardam came in at left-back and performed superbly.

But Slough just couldn't find any real pattern to their play despite a really industrious midfield display from Jimmy Jacobs. Twice Bartley almost gave Welling the vital breakthrough while Slough's main hopes rested on Rowan Dodds' occasional storming runs at the Welling defence.

Then, with 47 minutes gone, Welling scored the goal that looked set to kill off Slough's cup dreams. Mark Allan played a free kick to Bartley and his shot on the turn from 15 yards went on off Gardam.

Still Welling looked the more dangerous side as Slough's hopes faded with a succession of poor passes when promising moves threatened.

Flyaway winger White missed a golden chance to further dent Slough's hopes and only a last ditch tackle by Derek Harris then foiled the same player.

The possible turning point of the match came on 65 minutes when Kiely replaced Dean Woodley up front. With almost his first touch Kiely saw a header superbly pushed away by Terry Jessop but that looked like being the closest Slough would come.

And then when most people had given up all hope of Slough scoring they snatched an equaliser with ten minutes left. Harris pumped a free kick into the Welling area, White flicked the ball on and there was Kenny Wilson to bravely get in and head home from close range.

Suddenly Slough burst to life and their superior fitness took over as Welling started to fade.

There were just two minutes left when the golden winning goal came. White's corner on the right was palmed away by Jessop and Wilson swooped on the loose ball. The tricky Slough winger sent over a searching cross and Kiely rose at the far post to powerfully meet the ball and despite Paul Sawyer's desperate effort to keep it out both referee and linesman ruled the ball had crossed the line.

So a night full of cup fever and passion ended in the most dramatic way with Slough coming back from the dead to win a game that for so long seemed right out of their reach.