Anderson finally finds a way through

It took Slough 180 minutes to find a way through the Yeading defence in this FA Cup second qualifying round match.

Though they had excuses on Saturday in terrible conditions and at Yeading's tiny ground, you would expect a Conference side to stamp more authority with home advantage.

What cost the visitors ultimately though, was sweet justice. Their over physical display helped prevent a decent game of football from getting underway and it all began in the first 10 minutes when both Steve Thompson and Colin Fielder were victims of nasty challenges which referee Mr Pearce let go without taking a name.

From then on Yeading were to get away with a number of underhand tactics which saw them trying to wind up Thompson. But you would still expect a Conference side to be too physical for this Diadora league outfit but it was the Rebels who were getting the bruises.

The team was shuffled when Trevor Bunting replaced the injured Phil Burns in goal and Mark Mallinson replaced Allan Pluckrose who had work commitments. Mark Hill was still troubled by a groin strain and both Gary Donnellan and Mick Putnam were left out in favour of Neal Stanley and Steve Hickey.

Early on Mark Turkington's free kick was headed against the bar and Thompson's back header was held at a stretch by Stuart MacKenzie. Then with 24 minutes gone Barry Rake was guilty of a glaring miss. Rake rounded the stranded keeper after a Robbie Johnson slip but his shot flashed across goal when it should have been on target.

Yeading caused the odd problem in the first half with their pace as they sucked Slough in with their five man defence. But Slough weren't effective from midfield with Eammon O'Connor shooting everytime he got the ball and never hitting the target.

It was fortunate they had Tony Knight's pace at the back and the defender turned in an immaculate performance. Yeading looked a better outfit in the second half and were a yard faster in midfield where Slough were beginning to wander.

They carved out the more dangerous attacks in the second period and it was poor stuff from Slough as they failed to carve out genuine chances against a defence that was well organised but not what you would expect to stop Slough.

Yeading's pace up front was beginning to cause problems and they got men into positions that had Slough stretching to defend.

Thompson should have scored when he caught the Yeading defence napping but his chip beat the keeper and bounced off the bar.

Slough quickly went off the boil though and it got worse when Yeading hit the bar from a free kick that should never have been following an excellent, legitimate, challenge from Mallinson when the dangerous Welsh raced through.

Turkington blasted Thompson's pass back over the bar from 10 yards and O'Connor's cross shot was deflected to the far post where MacKenzie was alert to punch it off Rake's head.

Then the referee lost control. Trouble had been boiling throughout after his lack of protection and two nasty challenges went unpunished and left Slough players squaring up and snarling at their opponents — just what Yeading wanted.

Eventually two names were taken but Yeading were catching Slough and it should have been all over when Welsh got through but fired wide.

Mallinson was then subjected to an abysmal challenge from McCartney, who was booked, but then came justice. Ex-rebel Johnson, who had been doing his best to wind up his former team mates, kicked Rake with the ball in safety.

He immediately conceded a free kick with 90 minutes on the clock and it was swung in, dummied at the near post for Darren Anderson to send a scorching volley into the top corner and end the nightmare.

Slough have signed Steve Whitby. The deal was concluded on Wednesday evening in time for the Capital League match. The 21 year old Wycombe full back comes to Wexham Park for £8,000, the club's second big signing after money has been made available this season.

Slough boss Alan Davies said: Steve will be a good asset to the club. He played 30-35 games for Wycombe last season and was very unlucky to get injured in a warm up and miss out on the FA Trophy final.

"Everyone thinks he is a good player at Wycombe and he is unlucky not to be in the side at the moment."

On the Yeading performance: "I'm very pleased to go through into the next round. These games are difficult and though you have to be favourites and though it's frustrating you have to keep going against these sides."