Where do we start? Result and performance seem to be two completely unrelated items for Slough right now, but sooner or later (very possibly this Saturday) Slough will be thrashed, and most of the supporters will not be in the slightest bit surprised.
To get right down to the basics, Slough were rubbish against Bishop's Stortford, fact. And for all Dave Russell's hopefulness and "we're top of the league" cheeriness, Slough will not be promoted on this form.
At the end of the season, all that matters is that Slough win the league - second place only makes them the best of the losers - and the club badly needs promotion . On this form, it's touch and go to say the least. Don't say you weren't warned.
And so to Saturday. Andy Sayer was back from suspension, pushing Bushay back to a midfield-cum-attacker role that suits him down to the ground. Certainly, on 17 minutes Ansil's pace should have been rewarded when he outpaced the back four and slipped the ball past the 'keeper, only for West to have the resulting shot cleared off the line by a defender.
Slough were comfortably in command of the match at this point, and looking to build on a firm start. And then it all fell to pieces - the tricky Le Bunn sprung the attempted offside trap, rounded Bunting and slotted home. There was more to come. As the half-hour approached, Le Bunn made Lee look positively remedial on the wing, before slicing a shot past Trevor.
A bad start, yes, but surely now was the time for the Rebels to rally round, pull their socks up and hit back.
Obviously not, as Slough proceeded to completely lose their grip on the game. As the crowd watched in amazement, they served up a stunning menu of errors and cock-ups, as the home side hit the post with the defence stranded, and Bateman (obviously hedging his bets on a transfer to Hertfordshire) insisted on passing the ball to their players and then proceeded to allow Le Bunn to run clean through on Bunting. Only a first-class save stopped a third goal, and when Dave Russell replaced the defender with Daniel Nwaokolo on 62 minutes, we could all breathe a little more easily.
Still, the shots came piling in from Stortford, and a decent side (like Enfield perhaps?) would have been chalking up a cricket score.
But then, finally, Slough hit the target. Sayer managed to squeeze a shot onto the post, and there was Bushay to head home the rebound.
But could they keep it up? The omens were not good - Bunting had to perform near-miracles in goal, and Le Bunn tore the defence to pieces. But, never mind, because the Rebels somehow managed an equaliser, West sliding home in a goalmouth scramble. Only a visually-challenged referee managed to prevent a third from going in, when he somehow failed to give a penalty when Lee hauled Burns over in the area. But then the final whistle went, and it was alright. Except it wasn't. Not by a long way.
So here's a challenge to Dave and the lads. Play Enfield off the park on Saturday, and prove you can still do it. Then I'll be the first to admit that promotion is a real possibility.
To get right down to the basics, Slough were rubbish against Bishop's Stortford, fact. And for all Dave Russell's hopefulness and "we're top of the league" cheeriness, Slough will not be promoted on this form.
At the end of the season, all that matters is that Slough win the league - second place only makes them the best of the losers - and the club badly needs promotion . On this form, it's touch and go to say the least. Don't say you weren't warned.
And so to Saturday. Andy Sayer was back from suspension, pushing Bushay back to a midfield-cum-attacker role that suits him down to the ground. Certainly, on 17 minutes Ansil's pace should have been rewarded when he outpaced the back four and slipped the ball past the 'keeper, only for West to have the resulting shot cleared off the line by a defender.
Slough were comfortably in command of the match at this point, and looking to build on a firm start. And then it all fell to pieces - the tricky Le Bunn sprung the attempted offside trap, rounded Bunting and slotted home. There was more to come. As the half-hour approached, Le Bunn made Lee look positively remedial on the wing, before slicing a shot past Trevor.
A bad start, yes, but surely now was the time for the Rebels to rally round, pull their socks up and hit back.
Obviously not, as Slough proceeded to completely lose their grip on the game. As the crowd watched in amazement, they served up a stunning menu of errors and cock-ups, as the home side hit the post with the defence stranded, and Bateman (obviously hedging his bets on a transfer to Hertfordshire) insisted on passing the ball to their players and then proceeded to allow Le Bunn to run clean through on Bunting. Only a first-class save stopped a third goal, and when Dave Russell replaced the defender with Daniel Nwaokolo on 62 minutes, we could all breathe a little more easily.
Still, the shots came piling in from Stortford, and a decent side (like Enfield perhaps?) would have been chalking up a cricket score.
But then, finally, Slough hit the target. Sayer managed to squeeze a shot onto the post, and there was Bushay to head home the rebound.
But could they keep it up? The omens were not good - Bunting had to perform near-miracles in goal, and Le Bunn tore the defence to pieces. But, never mind, because the Rebels somehow managed an equaliser, West sliding home in a goalmouth scramble. Only a visually-challenged referee managed to prevent a third from going in, when he somehow failed to give a penalty when Lee hauled Burns over in the area. But then the final whistle went, and it was alright. Except it wasn't. Not by a long way.
So here's a challenge to Dave and the lads. Play Enfield off the park on Saturday, and prove you can still do it. Then I'll be the first to admit that promotion is a real possibility.
Slough Town Line Up
- 1 Trevor Bunting
- 2 Trevor Baron
- 3 Steve Bateman 12
- 4 Graham Roberts
- 5 Andy Clement
- 6 Brian Lee
- 7 John Richardson
- 8 Neil Catlin
- 9 Mark West
- 10 Andy Sayer
- 11 Ansil Bushay
Substitutes
- 12 Danny Nwaokolo 3
- 14 Tony Dell