Slough Town
2
Landeg (3), Stanley (59)
Leytonstone Ilford
0
League
Gary Duffy
Slough Town flashed a warning to the rest of the league championship hopefuls with a fine win over highly fancied Leytonstone/Ilford on Saturday. Despite the lack of any big signings for this season, the Rebels showed that they have what it takes to rise above determined opposition to emerge with maximum points.
Nevertheless, they did have one new signing making his debut, but former Marlow and Wycombe midfielder Bobby Dell made only a minor contribution to what was a solid all round team display.
"He didn't do much," admitted manager Alan Davies, "but what he did do, he did well."
Davies had more to say about the end result, however: "We played quite well and although Leytonstone had a couple of big fellows up front, I couldn't really see them scoring. In the end, we could have finished winners by four or five."
Indeed, the Rebels could have emerged more, comfortable victors. However, they must be happy with the result having soaked up considerable pressure during the second half. Jeff Bateman and Tony Knight found the going a little tougher than usual in the centre of the defence. However, Ray Duffy was in inspired form on the right.
Indeed, most of the Rebels attacks stemmed from Duffy, whose pin-point accuracy found the ubiquitous Steve Thompson with monotonous regularity. It was Duffy who started the move for Slough's third minute opening goal with just such a pass.
Thompson raced down the line to meet the fullback's through ball and then crossed low to the far post where Colin Landeg was on hand to guide the ball home from close range.
Unperturbed by the early setback, the visitors battled on manfully in this thoroughly entertaining contest. With the play flowing from end to end, the goals looked certain to come.
And they would have, but for Tony Dennis heading wide in the 22nd minute and Leytonstone's Joe Simmonds shooting wide from close range in the 27th.
Thompson came closer when he carved an opening from nothing on the half hour. He wrestled the ball from Paul Roberts before unleashing a 25 yard snapshot that keeper Dave Mallett saved with the aid of sharp reflexes.
Mallet came to the visitors' rescue again on the stroked of half-time when he narrowed the angle to smother a shot from Neal Stanley.
The visitors made a brighter start to the second period, but their territorial superiority was not enough.
Stanley made amends for his earlier miss when he extended the Rebels' lead after 59 minutes.
Thompson was put through by Dell, and unselfishly squared the ball to Stanley who coolly thumped the ball past Mallett from 15 yards.
Leytonstone continued to surge forward, but continually lost possession in the last third.
Slough counter-attacked at speed and could easily have grabbed another two or through goals before full-time.
Nevertheless, they did have one new signing making his debut, but former Marlow and Wycombe midfielder Bobby Dell made only a minor contribution to what was a solid all round team display.
"He didn't do much," admitted manager Alan Davies, "but what he did do, he did well."
Davies had more to say about the end result, however: "We played quite well and although Leytonstone had a couple of big fellows up front, I couldn't really see them scoring. In the end, we could have finished winners by four or five."
Indeed, the Rebels could have emerged more, comfortable victors. However, they must be happy with the result having soaked up considerable pressure during the second half. Jeff Bateman and Tony Knight found the going a little tougher than usual in the centre of the defence. However, Ray Duffy was in inspired form on the right.
Indeed, most of the Rebels attacks stemmed from Duffy, whose pin-point accuracy found the ubiquitous Steve Thompson with monotonous regularity. It was Duffy who started the move for Slough's third minute opening goal with just such a pass.
Thompson raced down the line to meet the fullback's through ball and then crossed low to the far post where Colin Landeg was on hand to guide the ball home from close range.
Unperturbed by the early setback, the visitors battled on manfully in this thoroughly entertaining contest. With the play flowing from end to end, the goals looked certain to come.
And they would have, but for Tony Dennis heading wide in the 22nd minute and Leytonstone's Joe Simmonds shooting wide from close range in the 27th.
Thompson came closer when he carved an opening from nothing on the half hour. He wrestled the ball from Paul Roberts before unleashing a 25 yard snapshot that keeper Dave Mallett saved with the aid of sharp reflexes.
Mallet came to the visitors' rescue again on the stroked of half-time when he narrowed the angle to smother a shot from Neal Stanley.
The visitors made a brighter start to the second period, but their territorial superiority was not enough.
Stanley made amends for his earlier miss when he extended the Rebels' lead after 59 minutes.
Thompson was put through by Dell, and unselfishly squared the ball to Stanley who coolly thumped the ball past Mallett from 15 yards.
Leytonstone continued to surge forward, but continually lost possession in the last third.
Slough counter-attacked at speed and could easily have grabbed another two or through goals before full-time.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Trevor Bunting
- 2 Ray Duffy
- 3 Keith White
- 4 Tony Knight
- 5 Jeff Bateman
- 6 Colin Landeg
- 7 Gary Dodd
- 8 Tony Dell
- 9 Neal Stanley
- 10 Steve Thompson
- 11 Tony Dennis
Substitutes
- 12 Trevor How
- 14 Wayne Wanklyn
Leytonstone Ilford Lineup
Mallett, Denton, Watts, Pamphlett, Roberts, Simmonds, Barton, Dingwall, Flint, Coles, Sullivan. Subs: Mercer (for Sullivan 71 mins), Coates (for Pamphlett 78 mins).