How quickly the footballing fates can change. Slough having looked a class apart from a disappointing Boston side just two weeks previously and in front of the television cameras gave an entirely different performance on Saturday as the script was horribly changed.
The score line was the same but the result very different, the future 14 days ago visibly brighter, now dimmed to the point of despondency and despair.
The inconsistency of his side must frustrate manager Alan Davies more than he can explain because, not for the first time this season, Slough had enough chances to have earned more from the game.
Their football was often pleasing and easy on the eye and gave reason for encouragement as Thompson caused discomfort to the home side and the surging runs of Donnellan threatened a positive beginning.
But close to goal there was a hesitancy, a need for guidance that certainly wasn't apparent those 15 days earlier.
Conditions certainly didn't help, as the wind buffeted the players and made control that one touch more difficult, but Slough did enough to suggest they would prove themselves able to cope with the challenging gusts.
Certainly Gary Donnellan should have lifted his side with a 19th minute strike but through unopposed on Boston keeper McKenna he was unable to find the desired finish and the ball was swallowed up by McKenna as he closed down the angles.
The winds blew no luck Slough's way and as they battled in vain for the crucial first strike they slipped up in defence. Hill's 33rd minute challenge on Nattrol was adjudged a foul and the Boston player got up to beat Watkiss — deputising for the injured Bunting —easily from the spot.
Slough were without doubt the better side for the remainder of the half and Donnellan, Thompson and McKinnon all had half chances without looking likely to level matters.
It was still rather disappointing that they should concede a second early on in the second period as Nattrol again lost his marker, galloped onto a well-weighted through ball and drilled his shot beyond Watkiss.
With 15 minutes remaining Boston made the game safe as a bad tempered affair began to boil over. Slough lost concentration and lost Jones who got away in front of goal to make it three.
Slough hardly deserved to be on the end of such a convincing score line but defensively they had for a second week been guilty of unprofessional errors. Steve Thompson was able to put a slightly more appealing look on the score when he netted from Neal Stanley's intelligent through ball.
Coming as it did 12 minutes from time there still seemed a slight hope that Slough might rescue something from the game.
However, just like memories of that stylish screen show in late January, those hopes were to fade all too quickly.
The score line was the same but the result very different, the future 14 days ago visibly brighter, now dimmed to the point of despondency and despair.
The inconsistency of his side must frustrate manager Alan Davies more than he can explain because, not for the first time this season, Slough had enough chances to have earned more from the game.
Their football was often pleasing and easy on the eye and gave reason for encouragement as Thompson caused discomfort to the home side and the surging runs of Donnellan threatened a positive beginning.
But close to goal there was a hesitancy, a need for guidance that certainly wasn't apparent those 15 days earlier.
Conditions certainly didn't help, as the wind buffeted the players and made control that one touch more difficult, but Slough did enough to suggest they would prove themselves able to cope with the challenging gusts.
Certainly Gary Donnellan should have lifted his side with a 19th minute strike but through unopposed on Boston keeper McKenna he was unable to find the desired finish and the ball was swallowed up by McKenna as he closed down the angles.
The winds blew no luck Slough's way and as they battled in vain for the crucial first strike they slipped up in defence. Hill's 33rd minute challenge on Nattrol was adjudged a foul and the Boston player got up to beat Watkiss — deputising for the injured Bunting —easily from the spot.
Slough were without doubt the better side for the remainder of the half and Donnellan, Thompson and McKinnon all had half chances without looking likely to level matters.
It was still rather disappointing that they should concede a second early on in the second period as Nattrol again lost his marker, galloped onto a well-weighted through ball and drilled his shot beyond Watkiss.
With 15 minutes remaining Boston made the game safe as a bad tempered affair began to boil over. Slough lost concentration and lost Jones who got away in front of goal to make it three.
Slough hardly deserved to be on the end of such a convincing score line but defensively they had for a second week been guilty of unprofessional errors. Steve Thompson was able to put a slightly more appealing look on the score when he netted from Neal Stanley's intelligent through ball.
Coming as it did 12 minutes from time there still seemed a slight hope that Slough might rescue something from the game.
However, just like memories of that stylish screen show in late January, those hopes were to fade all too quickly.
Slough Town Line Up
- 1 Richard Watkiss
- 2 Phil Stacey
- 3 Mark Hill
- 4 Stuart Hemsley
- 5 Darren Anderson
- 6 Steve Whitby
- 7 Colin Fielder
- 8 Paul McKinnon
- 9 Gary Donnellan
- 10 Steve Thompson
- 11 Alan Pluckrose
Substitutes
- 12 Mark Mallinson
- 14 Neal Stanley