Wanderers learn lesson from Rebels stars

The Berks and Bucks Cup might count for virtually nothing, but try telling that to the fans who filled Wexham Park on Thursday night to see Slough and Wycombe.

Wycombe are, after all, the spawn of Satan in the eyes of most Slough Town fans, the team who had the audacity to get into the league ahead of the Rebels, the team who are actually successful.

So motivation was not needed for supporters or the players, who outperformed their opponents in every department. Miguel DeSouza, new hero of Adams Park, was the main big name attraction on show and looked the main threat, but Andy Sayer and Ansil Bushay were the real stars straight from the off and eventually decided the match.

Sayer brought the best out of reserve 'keeper Moussadik from several early flowing moves, culminating in a Lee header which forced a brave stop.

But far more importantly than that, he directed play in every part of the field and such was his influence that he was taken apart on three occasions by Wycombe defenders not once did he react.

Bushay, meanwhile, gave the full-backs the sort of game they will not forget in a long time, twisting and turning and fighting his way to the by-line to put over a string of pin-point crosses.

The Rebels were quite literally all over their local rivals, buzzing around the edge of the box like bees around a honeypot. It was West, naturally, who, having the most to prove, proved it first on 16 minutes. Bushay wriggled free in the box and lashed a shot off a defender. Ex-Wycombe legend West had his back to goal, turned and skewed his shot into the roof of the net. The celebrations were worth seeing.

Slough held firm in every department - West was a menace up-front, Sayer and Catlin went in hard and Bateman, Lee, Baron and Clement formed an assured defensive line-up.

Chances were hard to come by, but the Rebels took the lion's share of those which emerged. A Bushay shot hit the inside of the post and very nearly crossed the line, the best of many opportunities.

Such was the disappointment of their display that the best chance of the half for the visitors came on 42 minutes, when Bunting finger-tipped a Patterson shot around the post, quite a feat considering that most of his previous occupation had been dealing with back-passes.

There was more to come for the Rebels at the start of the second-half, with the superb Bushay coming desperately close on several occasions.

He capped a fine display with the second goal on 63 minutes, a strike up there with the best of the season. Sayer teed him up and the rejuvenated Bushay hit a mesmerising volley into the top corner.

With Wycombe penned almost exclusively back in their own half and with Bushay getting the ammunition from Sayer and Catlin, a third looked on the cards.

But DeSouza, obviously tired and probably wondering what he was doing in a non-league ground a few weeks after appearing for Birmingham City, managed one solitary flash of brilliance to offer a little hope for his side with a consolation goal. Substitute Clark provided the bullet with a left-wing dipping cross and new signing DeSouza pulled the trigger, beating Bunting to the header.

Catlin could really have finished them off with a blistering drive which Moussadik did well to catch, but the Rebels were worthy victors.

A night, then, for remembering what could have been, or maybe what could still be. And who knows, maybe a few of those 'traitors' who defect from Slough to watch Wycombe might just return to Wexham Park on their knees one day.