It's A TV Repeat As The Rebels End Dismal Run

Perhaps if television cameras had been present at all 25 of Slough Town's Conference fixtures this season the Rebels might now be looking forward to the prospect of league football at Wexham Park in 92-93.

Satellite viewers must be wondering just what goes wrong for Slough when the cameras are not present because after the attacking feast they served up at the end of January to brush aside Boston they provided a spicy second course with a well earned victory at previously in-form Welling United on Friday.

How Alan Davies will cope with his celebrities from here-on-in could be a problem; will they refuse to play without the incentive of being on the box?

Certainly Town coped admirably considering the blows received in midweek; most damaging the loss of the mecurial Steve Thompson but also the confidence sapping defeat at Chesham in the Berks and Bucks Cup.

At Park View though there was a steely determination about the side as they bid to end their miserable run of away results — no wins in seven, defeat in the last six.

Trevor Bunting was back in goal after his thigh injury and the busier of the two goalkeepers early on as Welling surged forward with the degree of confidence that comes with a long unbeaten run at home.

Up front the home side carried the considerable threat of the dangerous Robins and he was as ever a constant menace.

His earliest opportunity came when he was first to a through ball and under pressure from Hemsley he burst into the penalty area and as Bunting came out, lobbed. Thankfully for Town the ball dropped the wrong side of the post for the pacy forward.

Chances came and went as Slough gradually battled their way back into the game with Whitby and Stanley wrestling control of the middle and Donnellan once again proving a difficult man to dispossess. It was not though until the after the interval that the visitors did their most effective work and in the 49th minute they took a crucial lead.

Donnellan was the provider, collecting the ball in midfield and carrying it to the edge of the Welling area before driving low and hard towards goal. Lee Harrison in the home goal did his best but he could only parry the ball out to the waiting Paul McKinnon, who from three yards out pounced for his third goal in front of the cameras — albeit his least spectacular.

It was also McKinnon's 10th of the season — putting him on the same mark as the departed Thompson — and acted as a valuable lift to his side.

Twice on the break Slough almost added to their lead and Mallinson, entering the forward line at pace, was only denied by a superb saving tackle as he bore down on Harrison.

Abbott was brought on for Welling and gave them new purpose and bite but they couldn't get back on terms although they came mighty close with two minutes remaining.

From an inswinging corner Robins was first again to the loose ball, but with a little more time than he seemed to think, he hurried his shot a fraction too high.

There was to be no next time for Welling. Slough took full advantage of the lack of numbers in the home defence and broke out in Forest-like style.

Whitby and Stanley —having an excellent game — combined superbly and it was the latter who crossed towards McKinnon coming in on goal. His very presence was enough to force a mistake from the unfortunate Stuart Winton who headed past his own keeper and into the net.

It's a victory that moves Slough back up into ninth place in the league and with Stafford Rangers visiting Wexham Park on Saturday there is the promise of more points to come, though this time the cameras won't be there!