Kingstonian
0
Slough Town
3
Bushay (59), Catlin (0-2, 86)
League
Attendance: 747
Trevor Baron
Slough moved to the top of the Diadora League on Saturday, a position to which they look well-suited, thanks to a disciplined performance at Kingstonian.
A fine second-half performance smoothed over any minor first-half problems for the Rebels, as two goals from Neil Catlin, and another strike from the unpredictable Ansil Bushay lead to a 3-0 win.
It was Slough who shaded the first half in terms of possession, but a very capable Kingstonian side who created the most numerous and promising chances.
Bushay wasted the best chance of the first period on 10 minutes, as he fought his way through the defence but could not finish.
Wingfield then missed a similar opportunity at the other end on the quarter-hour, before Harlow drove narrowly wide of the post from 15 yards. Four minutes later, he forced Bunting into a fine save from a similar distance.
Slough moved forward, but generally lacked the devastating final ball which would have released Bushay or West. The Kingstonian defence, therefore, were never tested.
The lively Endah wasted a fine chance on 43 minutes as he blasted over from six yards.
The Rebels were missing Andy Sayer, whose bustling presence creates opportunities in itself. Bushay drifts in and out of games too much in a John Barnes fashion to really be relied upon as a partner for West.
The second-half awakened from its slumber on 51 minutes to a penalty claim from Slough, as West was rather dubiously "floored" by the 'keeper while running towards the by-line.
The Rebels kept pushing, however, and it was Bushay who took them over the line on 59 minutes, beating the 'keeper on the edge of the box and sending the ball to trickle slowly into the back of the net.
Kingstonian looked determined to equalise, but all too often, the ball became trapped in the midfield quagmire, which suited the Rebels down to the ground.
This quagmire brought with it a number of seriously rash challenges from Kingstonian players, most of which were ignored by the referee. O'Neill's cutting down of Baron was the final straw, and when Bushay was taken down just outside the area two minutes later, Neil Catlin punished Kingstonian in the time-honoured way, thumping the ball home after the 'keeper had turned away Roberts' powerful drive.
Bushay should have scored on 83 minutes when clean through, the 'keeper doing well to block him, and Blackman was similarly stopped on 86 minutes, but as the ball worked its way back across the face of goal thanks to West, Catlin turned in number three.
The last 20 minutes aside, this match was finely-balanced and even, but the Rebels won it through the sandwich of persistence and ability with a generous smattering of luck in the middle which they will need to do well this season. The flags can keep flying for now.
A fine second-half performance smoothed over any minor first-half problems for the Rebels, as two goals from Neil Catlin, and another strike from the unpredictable Ansil Bushay lead to a 3-0 win.
It was Slough who shaded the first half in terms of possession, but a very capable Kingstonian side who created the most numerous and promising chances.
Bushay wasted the best chance of the first period on 10 minutes, as he fought his way through the defence but could not finish.
Wingfield then missed a similar opportunity at the other end on the quarter-hour, before Harlow drove narrowly wide of the post from 15 yards. Four minutes later, he forced Bunting into a fine save from a similar distance.
Slough moved forward, but generally lacked the devastating final ball which would have released Bushay or West. The Kingstonian defence, therefore, were never tested.
The lively Endah wasted a fine chance on 43 minutes as he blasted over from six yards.
The Rebels were missing Andy Sayer, whose bustling presence creates opportunities in itself. Bushay drifts in and out of games too much in a John Barnes fashion to really be relied upon as a partner for West.
The second-half awakened from its slumber on 51 minutes to a penalty claim from Slough, as West was rather dubiously "floored" by the 'keeper while running towards the by-line.
The Rebels kept pushing, however, and it was Bushay who took them over the line on 59 minutes, beating the 'keeper on the edge of the box and sending the ball to trickle slowly into the back of the net.
Kingstonian looked determined to equalise, but all too often, the ball became trapped in the midfield quagmire, which suited the Rebels down to the ground.
This quagmire brought with it a number of seriously rash challenges from Kingstonian players, most of which were ignored by the referee. O'Neill's cutting down of Baron was the final straw, and when Bushay was taken down just outside the area two minutes later, Neil Catlin punished Kingstonian in the time-honoured way, thumping the ball home after the 'keeper had turned away Roberts' powerful drive.
Bushay should have scored on 83 minutes when clean through, the 'keeper doing well to block him, and Blackman was similarly stopped on 86 minutes, but as the ball worked its way back across the face of goal thanks to West, Catlin turned in number three.
The last 20 minutes aside, this match was finely-balanced and even, but the Rebels won it through the sandwich of persistence and ability with a generous smattering of luck in the middle which they will need to do well this season. The flags can keep flying for now.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Trevor Bunting
- 2 Andy Clement
- 3 Brian Lee
- 4 Steve Bateman
- 5 Trevor Baron
- 6 Graham Roberts
- 7 Neil Catlin
- 8 John Richardson
- 9 Mark West
- 10 Martin Stone 12
- 11 Ansil Bushay
Substitutes
- 12 Garfield Blackman 10
- 14 Tony Dell