Slough Town
1
Catlin (72)
Wokingham Town
0
League
Attendance: 672
Brian Connor
The Rebels are holding on to this season by the skin of their teeth, but judging by this Bank Holiday display, they may soon be put out of their misery.
Once again, Slough leaped into the dark and looked doomed before the parachute of fate opened up for them with 18 minutes to go.
Wokingham, confirmed as relegated following the defeat, should at least have earned a point in a mindless dirge of a game, devoid of any of the talent or flair so badly needed at Wexham Park right now.
How much longer can such scrappy displays go unpunished? How long before Slough lose so heavily that their season is finally finished? If this team is Conference material, how can they look no better than a side heading for Division One? Everyone at the club desperately wants to believe that they can go up, but the simple truth is that they are almost certainly not going to.
Mark West and Steve Bateman's absences may have had a reasonable amount to do with it. Bushay swopped between Catlin, Sayer and Stone upfront, with all three looking thoroughly lost, while Lay and Catlin's passing was atrocious. Bushay was worse, looking so tired from start to finish that he was barely moving by the end.
The visitors did not manage a shot on target for the entire 90 minutes, and were always looking for the final whistle. The only surprise is that the Rebels looked no better until Catlin finally got the ball in the net on 72 minutes, scooping it over the excellent Meara from six yards after Clement had driven the ball low into the area and through the legs of several defenders.
Up until then, they had created only around half-a-dozen opportunities of note. Lay failed with the best of them on 40 minutes, meeting a Baron cross with a powerful downward header. Having done everything right, it took a well-judged dive from Meara to scoop it away. Clement also produced a rare moment of magic with a thumping shot from the edge of the area which the 'keeper again did well to tip over.
Given that Bushay was the only out-and-out striker on the pitch, he really should have taken the lead. But he flattered to deceive all afternoon, one minute flicking the ball casually over his marker's head, the next ballooning onto the golf range from six yards out. But nobody else looks good enough to take over, and - as he would no doubt protest - he has scored 26 goals.
Maybe that is the problem. Slough are third, after all, not a bad position, or a bad season, especially with two cup finals to look forwards to. They will be at Bromley in a game which they cannot afford to lose under any circumstances. Another performance such as this one will finish them.
Once again, Slough leaped into the dark and looked doomed before the parachute of fate opened up for them with 18 minutes to go.
Wokingham, confirmed as relegated following the defeat, should at least have earned a point in a mindless dirge of a game, devoid of any of the talent or flair so badly needed at Wexham Park right now.
How much longer can such scrappy displays go unpunished? How long before Slough lose so heavily that their season is finally finished? If this team is Conference material, how can they look no better than a side heading for Division One? Everyone at the club desperately wants to believe that they can go up, but the simple truth is that they are almost certainly not going to.
Mark West and Steve Bateman's absences may have had a reasonable amount to do with it. Bushay swopped between Catlin, Sayer and Stone upfront, with all three looking thoroughly lost, while Lay and Catlin's passing was atrocious. Bushay was worse, looking so tired from start to finish that he was barely moving by the end.
The visitors did not manage a shot on target for the entire 90 minutes, and were always looking for the final whistle. The only surprise is that the Rebels looked no better until Catlin finally got the ball in the net on 72 minutes, scooping it over the excellent Meara from six yards after Clement had driven the ball low into the area and through the legs of several defenders.
Up until then, they had created only around half-a-dozen opportunities of note. Lay failed with the best of them on 40 minutes, meeting a Baron cross with a powerful downward header. Having done everything right, it took a well-judged dive from Meara to scoop it away. Clement also produced a rare moment of magic with a thumping shot from the edge of the area which the 'keeper again did well to tip over.
Given that Bushay was the only out-and-out striker on the pitch, he really should have taken the lead. But he flattered to deceive all afternoon, one minute flicking the ball casually over his marker's head, the next ballooning onto the golf range from six yards out. But nobody else looks good enough to take over, and - as he would no doubt protest - he has scored 26 goals.
Maybe that is the problem. Slough are third, after all, not a bad position, or a bad season, especially with two cup finals to look forwards to. They will be at Bromley in a game which they cannot afford to lose under any circumstances. Another performance such as this one will finish them.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Trevor Bunting
- 2 Andy Clement
- 3 Brian Lee
- 4 Danny Nwaokolo
- 5 Trevor Baron
- 6 Dave Lay
- 7 Neil Catlin
- 8 Andy Sayer
- 9 Brian Connor
- 10 Martin Stone
- 11 Ansil Bushay 12
Substitutes
- 12 Garfield Blackman 11
- 14 Mark Watkins
- 15 Delroy Preddie