Harrow Borough
0
Slough Town
3
Bushay (1), Stone (57, 65)
League
Attendance: 464
Ansil Bushay
Slough may be lagging behind in the title race, but they obviously have not quite given up all hope yet, as this proud display shows.
The Rebels truly captured the fighting spirit which could have helped them so much earlier in the season, and thoroughly took apart a disillusioned Harrow side who never got anywhere near Trevor Bunting's goal.
If only this could happen every week. Barely had the sparse crowd taken positions than the lead had been gained, after a mere 40 seconds. Bushay, back to his potent best, scored it with an uncomplicated low shot into the corner of the net. It was to be a lead never threatened, and added to with some great football.
The plaudits were handed mostly to Sayer and Catlin for some sterling tackling and passing, but also to Bushay's endeavour and solid defending from Lee and Baron. What it proves beyond doubt is that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the side, merely that they need the spirit and the know-how to utilise their skills to the full. With a few choice additions in the summer, they will take the title next year.
The pressure which Borough applied was minimal. On 15 minutes, a free-kick was met by a firm header which an airborne Bunting showed athleticism to stop. Fraser was blocked by Baron as he threw himself at the rebound. Metcalfe jumped over Lay from a corner and looped his header onto the top of the crossbar, while Fraser missed the best chance when he stumbled wide of an open goal following a collision between Baron and Nwaokolo. But these were wayward vehicles; the rest of the game was one-way traffic.
Both Stone and Catlin shot just wide in the first-half, and Lay capped a good 45 minutes with a great ball for Bushay which completely by-passed Benstead. Only poor control prevented the striker from adding a second. Neither did the loss of Mark West at halftime prove to be the burden it could have been. Sayer moved up-front and gave his usual 110%, with substitute Mark Watkins delivering a fine display on the wing.
He has that rare ability - within the Slough side at least - to take the ball at his feet and really run at a defence, and could prove to be a very important signing for both this season and next.
The second goal finally came on 57 minutes, a glowing tribute to several minutes of hard graft. Great running by Bushay set up a Sayer shot which Hook fingertipped away, only for Catlin to return the ball quickly for Stone to power it in.
They added another eight minutes later, with Watkins striding through the defence and swapping passes with Sayer before switching flanks to find Stone completely unmarked and on target.
So don't criticise Dave Russell too much; he has the basic tools, he just needs to use them. With a few extra players (another winger would be particularly nice), next season could bode well - whatever league the Rebels find themselves in.
The Rebels truly captured the fighting spirit which could have helped them so much earlier in the season, and thoroughly took apart a disillusioned Harrow side who never got anywhere near Trevor Bunting's goal.
If only this could happen every week. Barely had the sparse crowd taken positions than the lead had been gained, after a mere 40 seconds. Bushay, back to his potent best, scored it with an uncomplicated low shot into the corner of the net. It was to be a lead never threatened, and added to with some great football.
The plaudits were handed mostly to Sayer and Catlin for some sterling tackling and passing, but also to Bushay's endeavour and solid defending from Lee and Baron. What it proves beyond doubt is that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the side, merely that they need the spirit and the know-how to utilise their skills to the full. With a few choice additions in the summer, they will take the title next year.
The pressure which Borough applied was minimal. On 15 minutes, a free-kick was met by a firm header which an airborne Bunting showed athleticism to stop. Fraser was blocked by Baron as he threw himself at the rebound. Metcalfe jumped over Lay from a corner and looped his header onto the top of the crossbar, while Fraser missed the best chance when he stumbled wide of an open goal following a collision between Baron and Nwaokolo. But these were wayward vehicles; the rest of the game was one-way traffic.
Both Stone and Catlin shot just wide in the first-half, and Lay capped a good 45 minutes with a great ball for Bushay which completely by-passed Benstead. Only poor control prevented the striker from adding a second. Neither did the loss of Mark West at halftime prove to be the burden it could have been. Sayer moved up-front and gave his usual 110%, with substitute Mark Watkins delivering a fine display on the wing.
He has that rare ability - within the Slough side at least - to take the ball at his feet and really run at a defence, and could prove to be a very important signing for both this season and next.
The second goal finally came on 57 minutes, a glowing tribute to several minutes of hard graft. Great running by Bushay set up a Sayer shot which Hook fingertipped away, only for Catlin to return the ball quickly for Stone to power it in.
They added another eight minutes later, with Watkins striding through the defence and swapping passes with Sayer before switching flanks to find Stone completely unmarked and on target.
So don't criticise Dave Russell too much; he has the basic tools, he just needs to use them. With a few extra players (another winger would be particularly nice), next season could bode well - whatever league the Rebels find themselves in.
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 Mark West 14
- 10 Martin Stone
- 11 Ansil Bushay 12
Substitutes
- 12 Garfield Blackman 11
- 14 Mark Watkins 9
- 15 Paul Frame