Slough Town
3
Wanklyn (46, 50), Thompson (55)
St Albans City
0
League
Attendance: 313
Jeff Bateman
In blustery conditions that neither side seemed capable of mastering, Slough brushed their way past St Albans with three strikes in a ten-minute second half blitz.
Rebels' manager Alan Davies, had witnessed a feeble display in the opening half, though he was able to provide enough half-time inspiration for Slough to come out with all guns blazing and take the game to their visitors.
Davies said later; " It was a real nitty-gritty game and too windy really. The ball was in the air too much in the first half, but we played more on the ground after that and when we do that, we are as good as any side in the league."
While being pleased with the three points, Davies was far from happy about the 3-0 score line.
He said "We sat back when we were three-up but that was a time when we should have taken them apart and won by five or six. St Albans have one of the worst defensive records in the league and we should have exploited that more, I think."
The ball appeared to, be hanging in mid-air for much of the opening 45 minutes though the Rebels were unlucky not to take the lead in the 13th minute when Jimmy Brown launched a superb diving header only to see his effort pass the post by inches.
Slough did manage to find the net five minutes later, but as Wayne Wanklyn turned to celebrate his strike, he found the referee had already stopped play for an earlier off-side.
The visiting forward line of Gary Keen and ex-Tottenham star Chris Jones ran at the Slough defence to try to create openings, but they were constantly thwarted by a determined Jeff Bateman, who systematically broke down every move of promise.
After little more goalmouth incident, the sides trudged off for a much needed break for players and spectators.
A minute after the restart, Steve Thompson tore down the left flank and appeared to be clean through, but the referee halted the move by blowing for an earlier infringement on the Rebels midfielder when a good advantage could have been played.
Slough need not have worried however as Wayne Wanklyn curled the free-kick Brazilian-style into the top corner for the opening goal in spectacular fashion.
Four minutes later, Wanklyn bagged another, after Jimmy Brown had charged through the defence before turning a shot past Saint's 'keeper Mark Pearson. The shot trickled towards the line before Wanklyn rammed the effort home to be certain of number two for Slough.
As Slough turned on the pressure, Steve Thompson made the points certain after 55 minutes, firing high into the net from 12 yards, and St Albans were well beaten.
Saints' frustrations showed on the pitch as they took their impending defeat badly, kicking out at Rebels players with the result that three were booked, along with Jimmy Brown of Slough.
Brown was substituted soon after. Alan Davies defended his striker later "I only pulled him off because Jimmy was already playing with his ankle strapped and I didn't want him to sustain any serious injury."
The game fizzled out as a spectacle after this as Slough looked content with the comfortable score line and three points in the bag, though a championship-contending side would need to turn superiority to goals to gain promotion.
Alan Davies has promised to work on that and to keep his players celebrations in perspective after last Saturday's success.
Rebels' manager Alan Davies, had witnessed a feeble display in the opening half, though he was able to provide enough half-time inspiration for Slough to come out with all guns blazing and take the game to their visitors.
Davies said later; " It was a real nitty-gritty game and too windy really. The ball was in the air too much in the first half, but we played more on the ground after that and when we do that, we are as good as any side in the league."
While being pleased with the three points, Davies was far from happy about the 3-0 score line.
He said "We sat back when we were three-up but that was a time when we should have taken them apart and won by five or six. St Albans have one of the worst defensive records in the league and we should have exploited that more, I think."
The ball appeared to, be hanging in mid-air for much of the opening 45 minutes though the Rebels were unlucky not to take the lead in the 13th minute when Jimmy Brown launched a superb diving header only to see his effort pass the post by inches.
Slough did manage to find the net five minutes later, but as Wayne Wanklyn turned to celebrate his strike, he found the referee had already stopped play for an earlier off-side.
The visiting forward line of Gary Keen and ex-Tottenham star Chris Jones ran at the Slough defence to try to create openings, but they were constantly thwarted by a determined Jeff Bateman, who systematically broke down every move of promise.
After little more goalmouth incident, the sides trudged off for a much needed break for players and spectators.
A minute after the restart, Steve Thompson tore down the left flank and appeared to be clean through, but the referee halted the move by blowing for an earlier infringement on the Rebels midfielder when a good advantage could have been played.
Slough need not have worried however as Wayne Wanklyn curled the free-kick Brazilian-style into the top corner for the opening goal in spectacular fashion.
Four minutes later, Wanklyn bagged another, after Jimmy Brown had charged through the defence before turning a shot past Saint's 'keeper Mark Pearson. The shot trickled towards the line before Wanklyn rammed the effort home to be certain of number two for Slough.
As Slough turned on the pressure, Steve Thompson made the points certain after 55 minutes, firing high into the net from 12 yards, and St Albans were well beaten.
Saints' frustrations showed on the pitch as they took their impending defeat badly, kicking out at Rebels players with the result that three were booked, along with Jimmy Brown of Slough.
Brown was substituted soon after. Alan Davies defended his striker later "I only pulled him off because Jimmy was already playing with his ankle strapped and I didn't want him to sustain any serious injury."
The game fizzled out as a spectacle after this as Slough looked content with the comfortable score line and three points in the bag, though a championship-contending side would need to turn superiority to goals to gain promotion.
Alan Davies has promised to work on that and to keep his players celebrations in perspective after last Saturday's success.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Trevor Bunting
- 2 Trevor How
- 3 Wayne Wanklyn
- 4 Steve Thompson
- 5 Jeff Bateman
- 6 Keith White
- 7 Jimmy Jacobs
- 8 Gary Dodd
- 9 Jimmy Brown 12
- 10 Neal Stanley
- 11 Tony Dennis
Substitutes
- 12 Paul Waites 9
- 14 Tony Knight