Must Do Better

Slough Town will be casting nervous glances over their shoulders this week, as they allowed two points to slip from their grasp during yet another mediocre display at Wexham Road on Saturday.

The Rebels now lie in 18th position, while the clubs directly above and below them both have games in hand, and under-pressure manager Les Briley must know that Slough could well face a relegation battle unless his side begins to pick up points in the approaching games.

The Telford game served as a perfect example of the form which has left fans frustrated and disillusioned this season. Slough simply failed to take control of the match at any point, and left the pitch knowing that they allowed a poor Telford side to steal a point that they did nothing to earn.

The match was dour by any definition, and not helped by a picky referee who booked three Telford players in minor incidents. Entertainment, however, was of low priority for a crowd which had come to see Slough finally pick up a gear, and were to leave disappointed.

In a pendulum like first half, Slough's first chance came early on, Fiore brilliantly putting Sayer clear, only for the striker to be caught before being able to shoot. Sayer also went close from a long free kick, Hughes narrowly beating him to the ball.

Slough created most of the early chances. Telford found it difficult to break the Rebels' comfortable defence, despite their superior build-up play, though they gradually tested the alert Bunting with some teasing crosses.

Slough's long ball play began to force the Telford back line into mistakes, most notably when Sayer almost capitalised on a poor back pass. But this successful supply line was not fully exploited, though, Slough seeming more inclined to allow Peters to weave his magic on the byline, finding no reward for his efforts in Fiore or Sayer.

The second half held few chances for either side, the ball taking up residence in midfield. Slough seemed to have lost most of their first half attacking ideas, Peters in particular being well subdued by a Telford defence which was not prepared to take risks.

Slough's first real opening came after Hughes dropped a cross at the feet of Fiore, who did not have time to take the chance.

Telford seemed content to share the points, offering little more by way of attack, though Bunting was forced to make two saves in quick succession after confusion in the Rebels' defence allowed Myers too much space.

As the final whistle loomed, Slough stepped up the pace. Morrys Scott replaced Quamina, an action which, had it taken place earlier, would surely have opened up the game considerably. As it was, it lead to Slough's best period of the match.

In the 88th minute, the lethargic crowd was awakened by Slough's finest effort by far. After a period of pressure, Telford could not clear the ball effectively and it fell to Manning who drove a superb shot against the post from 25 yards, with Hughes convincingly beaten.

A late Morrys Scott header found the target, but also the grateful arms of Hughes. In the final seconds, Fiore's graft on the touchline provided Scott with a clear header from a lofted cross, but the tall striker knocked the ball past the post.

Time is running out for Slough to secure safety, and the pressure has been turned up by this result. Though by no means a disaster, Briley will know this is the sort of match his side will have to win if they are to fulfil his expected top ten placing - a prediction that Briley must hope will not return to haunt him come the end of the season.