Rebels licked

Goal-shy Slough were given a lesson in the art of taking chances at Cherrywood Road. And if their defence continues to be as charitable, the Rebels face a long, hard winter.

For Alan Davies's side, which has only scored more than a single goal once in their last eight games, watched the league leaders convert all of their three first half openings to settle the issue in just 29 minutes.

And the manner in which they were allowed to race into that unassailable lead disappointed the Slough manager. "We're making mistakes at the back at the moment and being punished for them" Davies admitted, " and that hasn't been part of our make-up in the last couple of years. But the players know what's going wrong, and they've got to show a bit of character and put things right."

Equally as worrying though, is the fact that it's difficult to see who might stick them in at the other end. True, Slough didn't have a fraction of the chances they had in last week's cup exit at Southwick, but the new striking combination of Wanklyn and Brown again proved clearly unsuccessful.

The early season goal bonanzas against Hitchin and Tooting seem long ago. On the other hand, Boro have been finding scoring easy with 23 in their last eight and they were obviously anxious to atone for the only defeat of the season at Wexham Park eleven days before.

Indeed, the first half was basically a mirror of the game at Slough, not allowing the visitors to play and deciding the destiny of the points with a first-class display. And nobody played a bigger part in the first half than ex- Aldershot schemer Colin Fielder, who superbly bossed the midfield.

In the ninth minute, he freed Bailey on the right and as the cross eluded Bunting and went across goal, Jamie Horton needed the merest touch to put Boro in front after Jacobs slipped on the line.

The Rebels were guilty of not closing down Fielder ten minutes later and he used the time and space to hit a rasping 30-yard drive which the Slough 'keeper could only get a despairing hand to on its way into the corner.

Bunting said later that he felt he could have saved it, but didn't have a hope with Boro's third. After Read and Turkington had gone close, Fielder was again at the heart of the action as he played a fine through ball to the edge of the box. Jeff Bateman didn't react as quickly as leading scorer Simon Read, who took the ball round Bunting and stroked it into the empty net.

Slough were second best all over the park, despite not playing all that badly. But Boro were turning on the style which had taken them to a clear lead at the top of the Premier Division.

Vociferous appeals for a penalty after Jacobs allegedly handled in the box were waved away and out of the blue, Slough pulled one back a minute before half time. Wanklyn swung in their first corner through a crowded goalmouth and Gary Dodd was on hand to stab past Gosnell from three yards to give the Rebels some hope for the second half.

And with a helpful wind at their backs, they did enjoy the majority of possession but failed to create much of an impression where it mattered. With Kenny Wilson unavailable, Neal Stanley was the sole flanker yet despite switching wings for the period, he was still unable to get into the game.

But at least Slough were winning the ball more in midfield with Dodd, in particular, making his presence felt. Wanklyn and Brown headed off target, but Boro 'keeper Riley wasn't seriously tested before his colleagues added a fourth in the 75th minute.

After full-back Gosnell had galloped forward to shoot into the side netting, Turkington hoofed hopefully into the danger area and again Read showed sharpness to latch onto the loose ball and shoot past a stranded Bunting for his 10th goal in 11 games.

The 'keeper was well positioned to deny Horton, but Read could have completed his hat-trick moments before the final whistle after Turkington initiated, but his shot went wide of the mark. The Rebels must learn from this one!