Sayer's precious strike makes life a little easier

After this performance, you could have convinced me that it was August again as Slough played with the confidence and flair that they showed In their bright start to this conference campaign.

Excellent midfield play, tight defence made chances aplenty hopefully point to league safety for the Rebels against a Bromsgrove side which had conceded nine goals in their last two games, Slough could have plied on the agony but a solitary strike was all that they bad to show for their total dominance.

Players who were the butt of fans' anger a few games ago showed great character to produce their best football of the season and dumfound the critics. Manning was impressive in midfield and even better when he switched to fallback, Steve Scott stroked the ball around with a confidence which has been lacking for most of the season and Mark Quamina was inspirational. With debutant Julian Alsford giving a faultless display, this was their best performance for many months.

In the first five minutes, Webb felled Fiore and Manning was booked for taking retribution when Webb escaped unpunished. As the weather changed from sun to sleet and snow and back again, neither side created any clear-cut chances, but on twenty minutes, Carter burst clear and was brought down by Book and the referee bad no hesitation in pointing to the spot as Slough complained bitterly.

Webb stepped up and struck his kick low and hard. Book guessed right, but watched as the ball bounced to safety off his left post. This was the slice of luck which has deserted the Rebels recently, and it seemed to spur them on as they took a real grip as the game.

Quamina's shot was just off-target and Peters' effort was easily saved after more good work by Quamina. Whitby and Quamina linked well and were a constant threat to Bromsgrove's defence and it was Quamina's cross which was cleared for the corner which resulted in the winning goal on 32 minutes.

Peters swung the ball into the far post, and with Green in no-man's land, Sayer ghosted in to head home to the opposite corner, giving the Rebels a deserved lead.

Quamina again tormented full-back Omeara before exchanging passes with Manning and setting up Peters whose cross cum-shot was easily held by Green.

Just before half-time, Dowson was carried off to receive four stitches in a gashed side and was replaced by Brett Smith who went into midfield, with Manning switching to full-back.

Fiore started the second-half still limping and was replaced by Morrys Scott on 47 minutes. Quamina gained another corner after Steve Scott's excellent run. Peters struck it to the near post, where Alsford beaded powerfully down, but Green produced a stunning save and Holmes completed the clearance for another corner. This time, Lee caused mayhem and as the ball dropped, Alsford swung and missed when well-placed to score.

Bromsgrove relied on long balls which were meat and drink for Lee and Alsford and Book was virtually redundant in the Rebels' goal. Alsford's long pass released Smith, whose cross was missed by Gaunt and dropped to Sayer, whose acrobatic bicycle-kick was well saved by Green with Quamina closing for the rebound.

Whitby then picked up the ball in his own half and set off on a run, bearing into men before releasing Quamina whose cross was just taken off Scott's head by Green as Slough pushed forward in search of a second killer goal.

Scott was again in the action when heading straight at Green from Peters' cross with ten minutes to go. Then, somehow, Carter escaped a booking when kicking out at Whitby when he was on the ground. Had it not been for Quamina's intervention, it could have been far worse for Whitby.

The last action of the game saw Scott fire over from 20 yards, inevitably a after a pass from Quamina.

With all their nearest rivals dropping points, this result looks to be crucial for Les Briley's team. A point a game from their remaining fixtures, most of which are at home, should see them sage for another season and give everyone at the club a chance to take stock.