Hayes End Rebels Unbeaten Run

Slough Town's remarkable record of being undefeated in competitive games since mid March came to an abrupt end at Church Road on Tuesday evening.

Hayes ran out deserving winners at the end of an interesting, but not memorable game. Somehow the devaluation of the competition following the withdrawal of all the clubs from the Conference has placed a different emphasis on the cup and the Rebels side rather gave the impression that they were enjoying the match without taking their game to the limits.

Certainly this performance was well below that in Saturdays memorable game against the league leaders. The solid defensive qualities displayed in that match dissolved in a number of basic errors that handed Hayes their three goals on a plate.

Missing from the line-up were Jeff Bateman, broken arm, Steve Thompson, ankle ligament, and Trevor How. Gary Dodd carried on in central defence while Bobby Dell and Robert Gold replaced the other two.

Hayes fielded their strongest side and with some good performances behind them were early on the attack. Slough quickly recovered and some excellent work down the left saw Mark Adams in total control over his marker Jason Court.

However, the opening made during this early spell led to nothing and when Earl Whiskey was brought on for Court very early in the game the initiative began to swing to the home side.

Trevor Bunting was forced to make two brilliant saves from the dangerous Roy Marshall and a defensive mix up let Neil Fraser in with a clear chance. Bunting diving among the feet bravely grabbed the ball and sent a long clearance up-field to where Neal Stanley was lurking looking suspiciously offside. Waved on the Slough player skipped past Hayde and lobbed the ball neatly inside the post to give Slough the lead on the half hour.

For a short while the visitors looked dangerous, but then five minutes before half time they sowed seeds of their own destruction. Mark Adams gave the ball away in his own penalty area and Wally Downes cross was powerfully headed past Bunting by Roy Marshall from close range to level the score.

During the opening stages of the second half Slough flattered to deceive when a well struck goal from Gold was disallowed for handball. Hayes suddenly went up a gear and in ten seconds of sheer madness were handed a goal on a plate when the Rebels defence failed to clear a simple situation.

The reliable Gary Dodd, laid the ball into the path of Neil Fraser and the Hayes striker placed the ball just inside the post.

For a while the Slough midfield almost totally vanished as Hayes appeared able to control the game at will.

The occasional foray by Slough did allow Neal Stanley a couple of chances that might have been put away on another day and Tommy Langley, closely marked had little opportunity to make an impression.

Alan Davies, with time running out put on a double substitution, Mark Mallinson and John Watt replacing Robert Gold and Bobby Dell.

This seemed to spark off a revival and Paul Hyde in the Hayes goal was relieved when Stanley and Mallinson both struck powerful shots that whistled past the woodwork.

However, it was Hayes who had the last word and after Bunting had saved point blank from Roy Marshall it was left to Darren Seabrook to fire the last nail into the Slough coffin.

With ten minutes remaining, Mark Hill, making a rare mistake, let the ball run away from him.
Seabrook volleyed a tremendous shot from all of 20 yards into the roof of the Slough net giving Trevor Bunting absolutely no chance.