Show No Merthy

It has not been a vintage season for Andy Sayer but the little man's instinctive strike on Tuesday night earned Slough a crucial point against title challenging Welling.

Sayer's diving header in the 62nd minute of an often dire contest diverted Robbie Peters' miscued strike past Williams in the visitors goal and for a short lime seemed likely to bring Town three rather needed points.

It was not to be instead Terry Robbins, Welling's own mini maestro scored his first goal in seven league games and brought Welling a point they fully deserved.

Only 650 turned out on a bitter, unpleasant night and many of those must have wished they hadn't bothered after a desperately poor first half.
Trevor Bunting was the busiest man on the field in the first 45 minutes saving from Abbott's downward header and then blocking Finnan's shot with his legs, he could only watch when Robbins took his turn but on this occasion, the diminutive striker was off target.

Welling also had a penalty appeal turned down when they felt Alan Dowson used his arm to clear, referee Mr Osborne from Bristol, who did not have a good night, this time got it right and waved away their protests.

Mark Fiore who was back at left back as Les Briley reintroduced the sweeper system was perhaps lucky to complete the first half. Fiore who picked up a booking for dissent midway through the half then scythed down Finnan in a fit of peak but somehow escaped further punishment.

The second period was rather better and what it lacked in quality it made up for in effort, particularly in the cases of Peters and Dowson who twice made vital interceptions as first Robinson and then White seemed set to strike.

Briley, who after a sticky time in the first half, now looked altogether more assured at sweeper then pulled off the tackle of the night to rob the marauding Rutherford. It pumped him up and chest puffed out he sought to lift his men once more.

Peters responded and set off on yet another of his pacy, direct runs. Welling backed off and he left Robinson for dead, cutting in on to his weaker left foot he went for goal, sliced and instead found the head of Sayer, Williams had no chance.

Welling's response was emphatic. Smith, on for Abbott, headed firmly at Bunting who made the block but couldn't hold onto the ball, Rutherford's shot was charged down but after an almighty scramble it was Robbins who slammed the ball high into the roof of the Slough net.

Peters clearly felt he would have to win the game on his own and again he set about terrorising the sizeable but not swift Welling rearguard, this time his run finished with a rasping 30 yard shot which flew a couple of feet over the bar. At the other end White's free-kick was intended for Hone darting in in front of Bunting, luckily for Slough who hadn't picked up the defender's run, he failed to make contact.

The last few moments were the best of the game and at last it was Slough who looked like the home side, pushing numbers forward they were rewarded with successive corners and and they almost stole the points when from Peters' corner Quamina's shot was half cleared and Ian Hazel seemed to certain to score from six yards only to find Williams in the way and somehow he was able to hold on to the fiercely hit shot.

The point brings to end a three game losing sequence and hopefully should send Slough to Merthyr Tydfil on Saturday in good heart. They will I'm sure retain the sweeper system for they look a better side defensively with Briley marshalling but it's also crucial that they go to Wales with a positive attitude. A couple of wins now would stop all the talk of relegation dogfights and those who have seen Slough on their travels this season would no doubt agree that a larger emphasis on the attacking aspects of the game would do them no harm.