Slough defeated at Vetch Field

I don't think you can argue with the result. We got beaten by a very good team." that was Slough manager Alan Davies's perfect summing up as his sides FA Cup dreams were dashed at the Vetch Field on Saturday.

"I take nothing away from my players and I’m sure everyone involved with Slough can be very proud. We played as well as they let us." And Swansea, a skilful attacking outfit which will he playing third division football next season, hardly allowed the Rebels a look-in during Saturday's second round tie.

In fact if it weren’t for goalkeeper Trevor Bunting, the margin of victory could easily have been double. "He was superb in his first ever FA Cup game. I thought he was the man of the match out of the 22 players on the pitch." said Davies.

“He didn't have a chance with any of the goals." The first went in after only nine minutes. after he had already saved superbly from Melville and Love. This time, he was cruelly exposed as Love got to Lewis’s deep free kick before Bateman and Colin Pascoe shrugged off Knight to strike home from 15 yards.

Then Bateman, uncharacteristically struggling, went into a ref's notebook for the first time in his career for a late challenge on Williams.

The Rebels were pinned back in their own half for long periods and only Woodcraft looked anything like comfortable as the Welshman swarmed round the visitors' goal.

The Rebel's first clear-cut chance came after 26 minutes. Jacobs worked the ball out to White on the left, but although Brown controlled the cross well, he miscued disappointingly wide.

Pascoe. returning after an eight match absence because of an ankle injury, was showing the visitors defence a clean pair of heels almost at will and the Football Leagues oldest regular campaigner, Tommy Hutchison, was also a particular thorn in Slough's side.

The pro side, excellent one-touch passing often left Slough chasing shadows, but their forwards impetuosity and Bunting’s brilliance confined the Swans to a single goal interval advantage.

The 18 year old superbly denied Melville and Phelan and Slough were glad to go in at half time still with a chance of turning the tide in the second period.

But their hopes were dashed within four minutes of the restart. Tilley tried to get goal side of Pascoe but only succeeded in bringing down the £100,000-rated striker and ref Wilkes had no option but to point to the spot.

After Harrison had missed four of Swansea's last five penalties, top scorer Sean McCarthy accepted the responsibility and sent Bunting the wrong way for his 11th goal of the season.

Dodds had a great chance to reduce the arrears almost immediately. Wilson floated over the Rebels first corner but although the ball fell to Dodds, he couldn't turn and get a shot in.

The only team who looked likely to score after that though was Swansea. Full-back Phelan's speed was causing no end of problems as the Rebels often got lured into the middle ... before being exposed on the flanks.

Alan Davies replaced Brown with Devon Petty, with Waites pushing up front, but didn't make too much difference. Bunting did even better to keep out Emmanuel's follow up.

Terry Yorath's side wanted to add to their two goals in style and their tendancy to over elaborate did cost them a further score, until Hutchison was on the mark in the 69th minute. He weaved inside Tilley and shot superbly past Buntings grasping left hand.

White and Dodds drove wide from distance, before other sub Gardam had a golden chance to grab a consolation goal six minutes from time. Tilley found the youngster but with only Hughes to beat, he shot past the post.

The manager paid tribute to the tremendous support of some 800 Rebels supporters in the 4,819 turn-out, none of whom could complain about the result or the endeavour of a Rebels' side clearly second best.

Slough should receive around £10,000 from their share of the gate.