Runcorn
1
Wellings (1-0)
Slough Town
0
League
Attendance: 533
The pressure increased on Slough on Saturday, as yet another defeat left them dangerously close to the clubs striving to avoid the drop.
Less than a month ago, a top six spot looked, more than a faint possibility, now the very thought of such a feat would even ridicule.
On Saturday at windy Runcorn, Slough were disappointing but should not have lost. The Northerners also struggling took one of their rare opportunities; Slough from considerably more, wasted them all and no-one was more guilty than top scorer Paul McKinnon.
It was ironic that with Slough struggling so for goals, that McKinnon, Donnellan and Pluckrose, three men who shoulder much responsibility in that department, all ended the game with injuries which would prevent them from taking their places in the Rebels line up against Farnborough.
As things turned out of course, a change of personnel, did little for the end result.
The first half was dull; Slough yet again bad the better of proceedings but simply could not score.
Early on Colin Fielder's free kick drifted wide; Pluckrose set up McKinnon who shot wide and then Darren Anderson's header gave McKinnon another opportunity which again he wasted, mishitting his shot wide.
With luck it might have been 3-0 but when Pluckrose was denied just before the interval, the overwhelming sense it would not be Slough's day, was given yet more credence.
Hickey replaced the limping McKinnon but he couldn't change Rebels' fortunes.
Darren Anderson played the nifty Wettings onside and taking full advantage he raced through on Watkiss.
The keeper did everything right, but Wellings miscued his shot, and the ball bobbled into the net courtesy of a delicate kiss off the inside of the post —all rather typical of Slough miserable recent run.
On this occasion, unlike at Colchester, Slough couldn't raise their game, prompted by Fielder and encouraged by Anderson's frequent visits into the opposing box, Slough were all too often lacking the telling pass.
There was to be no late saver, their chances had come and gone early on. and the points had gone with them.
Should the Vauxhall Conference Committee decide to relieve them of three more for fielding an ineligible player, then the dreaded prospect of relegation will loom rather large.
Less than a month ago, a top six spot looked, more than a faint possibility, now the very thought of such a feat would even ridicule.
On Saturday at windy Runcorn, Slough were disappointing but should not have lost. The Northerners also struggling took one of their rare opportunities; Slough from considerably more, wasted them all and no-one was more guilty than top scorer Paul McKinnon.
It was ironic that with Slough struggling so for goals, that McKinnon, Donnellan and Pluckrose, three men who shoulder much responsibility in that department, all ended the game with injuries which would prevent them from taking their places in the Rebels line up against Farnborough.
As things turned out of course, a change of personnel, did little for the end result.
The first half was dull; Slough yet again bad the better of proceedings but simply could not score.
Early on Colin Fielder's free kick drifted wide; Pluckrose set up McKinnon who shot wide and then Darren Anderson's header gave McKinnon another opportunity which again he wasted, mishitting his shot wide.
With luck it might have been 3-0 but when Pluckrose was denied just before the interval, the overwhelming sense it would not be Slough's day, was given yet more credence.
Hickey replaced the limping McKinnon but he couldn't change Rebels' fortunes.
Darren Anderson played the nifty Wettings onside and taking full advantage he raced through on Watkiss.
The keeper did everything right, but Wellings miscued his shot, and the ball bobbled into the net courtesy of a delicate kiss off the inside of the post —all rather typical of Slough miserable recent run.
On this occasion, unlike at Colchester, Slough couldn't raise their game, prompted by Fielder and encouraged by Anderson's frequent visits into the opposing box, Slough were all too often lacking the telling pass.
There was to be no late saver, their chances had come and gone early on. and the points had gone with them.
Should the Vauxhall Conference Committee decide to relieve them of three more for fielding an ineligible player, then the dreaded prospect of relegation will loom rather large.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Richard Watkiss
- 2 Tony Knight
- 3 Mark Mallinson
- 4 John Sitton
- 5 Darren Anderson
- 6 Mark Hill
- 7 Colin Fielder
- 8 Paul McKinnon 14
- 9 Gary Donnellan 12
- 10 Steve Scott
- 11 Alan Pluckrose
Substitutes
- 12 Stuart Hemsley 9
- 14 Steven Hickey 8