Don't Lose Your Head

Fireworks flew as Slough notched their seventh consecutive win at Staines on Saturday.

The Rebels kissed goodbye to the 80's with some fine football, and showed strong discipline as the referee suddenly lost control of the game.

Mr Coffin, from Peacehaven of all places, decided to test Rudyard Kipling's "If you can keep your head while all around are losing theirs" to the full.

Slough came out admirably, and Staines failed. The fiasco was sparked after a bizarre episode in the first half, which saw Staines keeper Peter Lara run out of the area and clear the ball into the stand.

It knocked over a pregnant young woman and the referee deemed this to be dangerous play, though it was highly debateable that he deliberately hit the woman.

The referee booked him, manager Richard Teale protested as they left the pitch at half-time, and was sent off. Teale then tried to make substitutions midway through the second half, was again sent away, and the referee then decided to dispose of the services of the assistant manager, the physiotherapist, and substitute Steve Watts.

Then he sent off Graham Wilkins, recently signed from Slough, who seemed to have decided to take himself off, being replaced by Sean Armstrong. As soon as Wilkins had reached the managers box - off he went, and Mr Coffin hadn't finished yet, he sent off Andy Graham for elbowing Barry Rake.

But, it would be foolhardy to forget that Slough were already 3-0 up at the time, and playing some blistering football.

Slough boss Alan Davies said "It was a very difficult game, but we kept our discipline well, and were glad to get three points. We've got to look now at the next game and keep our run going".

A scrappy start gradually saw Slough take the upper hand, and begin to look promising. With Gary Dodd immaculate in defence, and the confidence spreading from defence, it was only a matter of time.

With 25 minutes gone, Barry Rake's pass enabled Neal Stanley to put Mark Adams through. As Adams closed in, Kevin Fidler brought him tumbling to the ground, and Robbie Johnson converted from the spot.

Mark Underwood missed an open goal for the home side minutes later, which summed up their performance. Staines were shabby and unproductive, and the game became constantly riddled with their niggling fouls.

It was one of Slough's many free kicks which saw them go further ahead. . With five minutes left before half-time. Johnson curled the ball into the box, Stanley got away with a harsh challenge on the keeper, and the ball bounced to Trevor How to stoop and head home.

Slough were rampant now, and twice had efforts cleared off the line from Stanley and Tommy Langley.

Seven minutes into the second half, the Rebels had moved three goals to the good. Johnson's cross allowed the inspirational Langley to control Stanley's header and chip perfectly to Rake at the far post, where the young midfielder drove home.

Mark Mallinson replaced the injured Steve Thompson, and Staines started to get a stranglehold on the midfield without looking dangerous. A full ten minutes passed as the referee set about the Staines bench, dismissing the home staff with gay abandon, and then Graham for his foul.

Adams curled wide at the far post as Staines went to pieces, and with 93 of the 108 minutes played gone, Langley was infringed by John Crouch, when receiving Johnson's free-kick in the area. Johnson then converted his second penalty of the match to make it four.

The only bad point for the Rebels came when Gary Dodd limped off after trapping a nerve in his foot, but with Tony Knight waiting in the wings, it wasn't too much of a blow.