Rebels lack steel edge

The anticipated exciting clash between these two contenders for honours in the Vauxhall Opel League Premier Division on Saturday produced something of a damp squib.

In a match dominated by the home side, the Rebels hardly emerged from their shell as they were outfought and outrun from first to last by Ted Hardy's talented side, who are still in a position to take the title if they continue in this fashion.

Slough were lacking the inspirational influence of Steve Thompson, and it was difficult to equate this performance with that at Bognor on the previous Monday when aggression and teamwork had been the hallmark of the Rebels approach.

The game itself was quite entertaining, but linesman Mr Caylor often brought the afternoon's events to a sudden halt with some erratic decisions to the frustration of players and spectators alike. Slough started off badly conceding two corners within the first minute with a series of poor clearances and a snap-shot from Micky Dingwell brought Bunting into early action.

In the eighth minute an awful bounce put Keith White in trouble and he hastily conceded a corner. The flag kick was half cleared to Joe Simmonds who, lurking on the edge of penalty area powered his volley past Bunting and into the corner of the net.

Leytonstone Ilford began to dominate, and Slough had to thank the eccentric linesman as he twice flagged to terminate some dangerous moves.

Occasionally, Slough did put a few odd things together but never looked threatening, and Paul Waites delivered the Rebels only shot on target during the first half, but this was charged down before 'keeper Dave Mallet was called into action.

Leytonstone Ilford went further ahead in the 24th minute from a simple but effective move. Martin Coates collected a ball out on the left with his back to goal, beat Trevor How and crossed low to the unmarked Warren Barton who shot past Bunting into the roof of the net.

For Slough only Tony Dennis was providing much aggression, but sadly his crosses were wanting in quality and caused only a mere flutter of anxiety in the home defence.

Four minutes before the interval Slough were lucky not to go three down when Bob Makin found Micky Dingwell with an economy of effort to split the Slough defence asunder only for Leytonstone Ilford's top scorer to shoot wide.

With Neal Stanley replacing Jimmy Jacobs after the interval things began to look better for Slough as Tony Dennis forced a save out of Mallet, and then the home 'keeper had to dive at Jimmy Brown's feet.

Then the Slough top scorer became the villain of the piece when he shot wildly when well placed, and then almost nutmegged Bateman with a back pass.

Retribution came in the 55th minute with a disastrous series of weak tackles that saw the ball surrendered on five successive occasions. A final pass across Slough's stricken defence left the ball in charge of Frank Coles and the speedy midfield player cut into the penalty area and lashed a tremendous shot past Bunting that give him no chance.

Within another couple of minutes full back Paul Watts found himself identically placed and Bunting brought off a fine save to deny him. The Slough midfield that had begun the match badly had now disintegrated and even the weaving magic of Paul Waites came to nothing with his passes finding spaces where there was not an amber shirt to be found.

Neither Dodd nor Wanklyn, two players with good pedigree, were able to match the pace of their opposite numbers.

Although the Rebels won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area in the dying minutes, Wayne Wanklyn blasted his effort high over the bar as even a consolation goal went begging.

At the end of the game the home side ran off to a quiet ripple of applause, but now their handful of supporters are totally disenchanted with the apparent demise of their club as it shortly becomes with Walthamstow Avenue the new West Essex United.