Rebels Progress In Trophy

A touch of fortune perhaps or an inspired piece of management, it matters little because David Kemp's late switch which allowed Mark Fiore to push forward paid handsome dividends as the cultured left footer made the decisive contribution to Tuesday night's FA Trophy first round replay.

It was in fact thoroughly enjoyable tie with Diadora Premier outfit Yeading playing a not inconsiderable part in the performance.

After soaking up a wealth of pressure from the home side in the first half and emerging from that examination just the one goal down — via the flashing head of Andy Sayer — the underdogs battled back with real grit and dealt better with the difficult heavy conditions — the elements almost caused the postponement of the game.

Striker Hector Welsh had three excellent second half opportunities, two of which brought fine interventions from Trevor Bunting while the third he blazed over.

Bunting may have had a quiet time on Saturday but he was a busy boy this time and responded emphatically with a magnificent display of shot stopping.

Slough were very much on top in the opening skirmishes and when Paul McKinnon misdirected an attempted diving header, McKenzie reacted quickly to foil the lurking Stanley.

After Dicker's header looped over Bunting's crossbar Slough pressed again and got their reward on 16 minutes.

Stanley who was scarcely out of the action on Saturday was proving busy once again and when he picked his way through the mud on the right he delivered a cross which for once defeated McKenzie and found the head of Sayer as he threw himself forward at the far post.

Sayer's confidence needs a boost at present and that goal allied to an improved showing should give him the impetus needed to make a prolonged assault on the scoring charts — Slough must hope so.

He was only a couple of feet away some seven minutes later when Whitby's intelligent ball in behind the fullback picked out Sayer's darting run; McKenzie was on him in an instant, but the little man still got in his shot.

Stanley managed to conjure up the miss of the season from the next Town attack. Friel's 30 yard strike, too hot for McKenzie to hold, rolled along the goal line to Stanley who must have slipped, but anyway he somehow contrived to tap it straight back to the astonished goalkeeper.

Whether or not that encouraged Yeading is not clear but they certainly raised their game a notch in a frantic second half.

Driscoll replaced Croad and their intentions were positive. Byron Walton sent Welsh away with a first time ball through the heart of Slough's defence and Welsh didn't do a lot wrong, he cut inside Fiore and his shot was good, but Bunting's save was better,

Yeading now sensed Slough's uncertainty and punished them on 65 minutes, Bunting did well to keep out Walton's low drive but couldn't stop Dicker sliding the loose ball in.

It didn't look good for Slough but Kemp made the all important tactical manoeuvre bringing on Darren Hancock for George Friel enabling Fiore to come forward from the restrictive role at left back. With the straight jacket off he immediately looked the part.

However before he could make his mark on affairs Bunting had to make another wonderful stop. Slough's number one again left exposed against the marauding Welsh, stood up well and somehow got his left hand to the shot pushing it wide.

Welsh missed out with his third chance before Slough countered.

Mark Quamina made his only telling contribution of the game, foraging away on the right before drilling a cross in low that Sayer touched away from McKenzie and Fiore bundled in.