Dean's Master Of The Ring

Slough Town were again taken the distance by Kingstonian -- before finally winning on points -- when the sides got into the ring at Wexham Park on Saturday for the fourth time in two weeks.

Kingstonians were still reeling from the blow of Kenny Wilson's dramatic last game winner in the FA Cup five days earlier and the Rebels should have knocked them completely cold in this Vauxhall Opel League, Premier Division clash.

Inside the first 58 minutes the Rebels dealt Kingstonian three strength sapping body punches and that should have been the cue for a final onslaught which would have finally knocked Kingstonian out of contention.

But Kingstonian are true fighters and they bounced back off the ropes to set up a dramatic final round with two goals in reply.

But master of the ring on Saturday was Slough's Dean Woodley. With his place under threat from first Micky Kiely and now Jimmy Brown, Woodley really turned on the magic as competition for places in the Rebels line-up hots up.

Manager Howard Kennedy missed the first 40 minutes and must have been surprised to return from his spying mission on Aylesbury to find Slough as Slough hadn't 2-0 up previously scored a first half goal in ten matches.

In fact, it took Slough just two minutes to land their first knockdown punch and the blow was a near replica of the one they had landed on Kingstonian two weeks earlier.

Keith White fired in a 22-yard free kick hot too hot for 'keeper John Power to handle - Jeff Bateman, crashed home the loose ball.

On 29 minutes Slough again had Kingstonian in real trouble when from Steve Norman's cross, Woodley skilfully knocked the ball down into Tony Knights path and relishing his midfield role, he struck home his first goal of the season.

Knight, however, was forced to retire at halftime with another reoccurrence of his pelvic injury allowing Jimmy Brown to make his debut.

After Graham Cox had saved bravely from Larry Galvin and then a Micky Preston header was somehow kept out, Slough landed the blow that should have finally finished Kingstonian off.

With 58 minutes on the clock one of the goals of the season was created, Rowan Dodds started it all off and then Jimmy Jacobs swung a superb ball out to Brown, and he put the Kingstonian defence into even greater chaos by delightfully chipping across for Woodley to clinically head home.

But within a minute Kingstonian were back off the canvas when John Martin broke down the right and crossed for Andy Wallace to fire home, with Rebels defence caught cold.

However Slough still looked good for a knockout win inside the distance and, it almost came after 69 minutes. Woodley flicked on Paul Gardam's free kick, Bateman got to the ball and knocked it on to the post but White and Brown then collided as they tried to force it home and the chance went begging.

Kingstonian were still not finished and they came fighting back in the final round when they again struck on 85 minutes. Gary Dodd and Chris Kelly combined to set up a chance and Wallace, was again on the mark with another well struck shot.

And the final drama came in the last minute when Richard Parkin bundled the ball home from Ian Armstrong's free kick but referee Dorling, ruled he had also fouled Cox in the process.

Parkin and Kelly continued to abuse the officials over the decision even after the final whistle and, can count themselves lucky no action was taken.

After the game Rebels assistant manager Alan Davies said: "We played some good football today and were clearly the better side, although I was disappointed we let them back into the game. We should have more pride than to let in goals like that. “

And commenting on Woodley's performance Davies said: "I gave Dean a kick up the backside before the game and he worked a lot harder and played very well."