Mind The Gap

Only the memory of the confident performances just a few days earlier, against Woking and Bromsgrove prevents real criticism of Slough's disappointing display against a very ordinary Macclesfield side at Wexham on Saturday.

Though a quick glance at the league table would appear to offer much comfort to Les Briley, in reality the gap between the Rebels and the bottom three is deceptively small. Given the inconsistency of the majority of sides in the Conference much can and probably will still happen.

Slough fielded an unchanged side but started tentatively in a match that would prove full of chances though few were clear cut- but all too often lacking in inspiration.

In truth the game rather matched the drizzly, dull weather.

Both sides began in a manner which suggested they wanted three points rather than one and Brian Lee was forced to head off the line in the sixth minute.

Up front for the visitors, Alford, always lively, gave Alsford - Slough's loan signing from Watford and the watching press a number of problems indeed after from the moment when Howarth grabbed the Macclesfield equaliser, Alford represented something of a lone threat to the Slough side.

Bunting provided Macclesfield with a an unlikely opening when he miskicked a clearance straight to Adams who could not in turn find the net from a an acute angle.

Slough's response was encouraging even if the finish was less so. A low free kick found its way through to Morrys Scott six yards out, but even with two bites at it he could not find the target.

In fairness to the lanky striker, he looked Slough's best player on the day, giving Macclesfield real problems in the air although the service from Peters, so often the source of Town's finer moments, was on this day somewhat lacking.

As the heavens opened, Alford rose to head over Bunting's bar but almost immediately Alsford responded by sending a flying header at the other end just wide of goal.

Crucially when the pair next clashed it was Alsford getting the better of Alford with a well timed tackle in the Slough box. Andy Sayer, strangely subdued suddenly awoke on 37 minutes with a lightning turn away from his marker, his ball into Morrys Scott was not though of the same quality and Scott after bringing the ball under control struck into the side netting. It seemed that his goal touch had deserted him since his hand injury.

But not so - on 42 minutes a deflected Steve Whitby cross was headed goalwards by Sayer and though his header was parried, Scott was on hand to touch the ball home.

It hadn't been pretty but Slough had battled hard for their advantage and deserved to be ahead.

Seven minutes into the second half however the pendulum swung back in Macclesfield's favour. The visitors pressed forward and exposed hitherto unsuspected frailties in the home rearguard. A quick interchange of passes on the edge of the box released Howarth and he beat the offside trap and then Bunting and levelled the scores.

Slough stung by the goal, were emphatic in the manner of their response and Sayer forced Lillis into a moment of madness as his seriously inadvisable backpass almost crept in. But it was not a comfortable afternoon for Trevor Bunting and when Macclesfield ventured forward again his mistake gifted MacDonald a chance of a second goal, thankfully due to his lack of control and composure it was a chance he spurned.

Morrys Scott was surprisingly substituted on 69 minutes. Neal Stanley coming on to replace a seriously miffed looking goal scorer.

With 13 minutes left Bunting made up for his earlier bloopers by ending the charge of Sorvel who had run clear, outpacing the Slough defence.

To the fans who had seen the promising fare served up at Easter this was all very mediocre stuff and Slough's form has yo-yoed considerably in the space of a few days once again.

Unbeaten in five now, Slough are continuing to climb away from the danger zone but they must regain the level of performance shown over the holiday weekend or risk faltering once more.