Rebels' Knightmare!

Ever since promotion to the Vauxhall Opel League 14 years ago, Slough have travelled to Mayesbrook Park but failed to come away with a winning result.

Each of these topsy turvy visits have resulted in disappointment and that elusive victory has yet to be earned. It was generally thought that this time they would be successful as the bogey had been laid to rest at Croydon, Harrow and Bognor this season.

A clean sweep of all four grounds would have given the Rebels considerable satisfaction. But Slough's aspirations, once back on the Mayesbrook pitch, drained from their legs as they, even like the championship side of 1980-81, just couldn't produce the goods at this dismal ground.

With heavy morning rain falling on to a hard pitch, the match was in doubt until 2.45pm when the small crowd, half of whom had travelled from Slough, filed through the gates.

By the end of the afternoon, many might well have wished they hadn't bothered, the cheerful headgear of Slough supporters providing the only light relief during a depressing afternoon.

For the first two minutes, Slough were well on top, and making promising inroads into the Barking defence, but before they could capitalise they gave away a silly goal. As Barking pushed over the half-way line for the first time in the match, Tony Knight's indecisiveness allowed Paul Wilson all the time in the world to stroke the ball past Bunting.

Typically enough, the ball rolled through the net and out, throwing some doubt on whether it went in, but the referee pointed to the centre and Slough were back on the rack again.

Minutes later, Tony Knight almost presented Barking with a second as his dreadful back-pass was pushed behind by Bunting for a corner. From a position of strength, Slough then faded into oblivion, and were only a shadow of themselves at Stortford the previous Tuesday.

Once more the main strength of attack emanated from Steve Thompson with the midfield looking indecisive, and Barking goalkeeper John O'Brien, was rarely troubled for the rest of the half.

If anything, Slough looked even more uninspired as the second half began and looked likely to concede more goals. Clumsy tackling didn't help matters and eventually Tony Knight, who will wish to forget this game, was booked.

In the Rebels first real chance, a good cross from Thompson was glanced just wide by Ken Wilson with O'Brien in no-mans land and Jimmy Brown, for once escaping the shackles of Steve Hatter, lost his footing at the vital moment.

Wayne Wanklyn was striving hard to get things moving after the break and Slough did have two final flings to save the day. Neal Stanley found time on the left, but screwed the ball over the bar before the final whistle.

And in the dying minutes Gary Dodd ran unchallenged into the penalty area and passed to Thompson who was heavily marked and this only achieved a fruitless corner.

How ironic that a side who were leading the goal-scorers' league could only pick up one goal in their last three away matches.