Rebeltastic!

Come May, Slough Town may not be crowned Conference champions and the football league's new addition, but on current form it's hard to see past them for the title of inconsistency kings.

Inconsistency of course dances hand in hand with frustration and anyone who witnessed Town's demolition of Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday will be mystified as to Slough's slump since September.

This was as good as anything served up this season and 3-1 scarcely does Slough justice. What it does do is help them climb towards the summit — still desperately in need of a winning sequence.

At least half of the league, probably still has title ambitions but all have games in hand on Town who must now maintain this level of performance to retain their interest.

In truth Dagenham-Redbridge were poor, a shadow of last season's line-up, ravaged by injuries and low on confidence. Their slump must be more frustrating for their followers than Slough's inconsistency is to theirs.

However the Rebels got it right from the start on New Years Day. The introduction of Quamina on the right hand side of midfield was inspired. He and Hancock combined wonderfully well throughout.

Although Parrott had an early attempt on goal, the visitors could boast only one after first half effort of note, a tame De Souza header.
Slough looked solid in all departments. Hazel, as ever, looked assured in the heart of defence, Steve Scott and Briley bossed midfield with Quamina and Fiore outside of them providing the flair.

Andy Sayer was a tireless contributor up front and he was rather unfortunate not to add to his recent brace. Morrys Scott must learn to work as hard as his smaller strike partner. When the lanky Scott isn't scoring his personal contribution is often lacking.

Steve Scott had two early opportunities, but was beaten to a header by McKenna on the first occasion and then saw McKenna pull off an athletic save to deny his 18 yard strike on 15 minutes.

However this was impressive stuff from Slough and when Quamina and Sayer combined to great effect on 27 minutes it needed the legs of McKenna to thwart Quamina's goal bound effort.

Four minutes later the Dagenham man was helpless. Quamina was involved again, this time swapping passes with Darren Hancock, and the flame haired full back ran on to thunder a low shot past McKenna.

The interval did nothing to affect the pattern of play. Almost immediately Fiore destroyed Stebbing and crossed for Sayer at the near post, the little man got a flick to defeat McKenna and Butterworth in attempting a desperate clearance succeeded only in hammering the ball against his own man Watts, and with McKenna still stranded the ball rebounded back into the Dagenham-Redbridge net.

Bunting made his first save in 40 minutes when Broom's shot arrived at comfortable height but within moments Slough had increased their advantage on the hour mark. Another sweeping move, begun by Briley, was continued by Quamina's curling, inviting cross. Mckenna came, Steve Scott arrived, the former missed the ball and punched the latter tn the head. It all left Fiore with the simplest of tasks to knock the ball home, he did the job with no fuss.

It was unfortunately the end of a dazed Scott, Stanley coming on for him and Quamina switching to the centre. Slough's rhythm was untroubled and Sayer was close to a fourth as Town sought their biggest winning margin of the season.

Such hopes were finally dampened late on when the visitors managed a consolation. Bunting and Dowson hesitated, Crown didn't and he poached one back. No matter the game had been won long ago.

Now Briley's task is to find that elusive jewel, consistency.