Going West

Slough striker Mark West did what he does best again after being restored to an attacking role in the 1-1 draw with Vauxhall Conference neighbours Farnborough Town on Tuesday night.

West fired home his 11th Conference goal of the season just seven minutes from time, his skill in the box allowing him to take a cross from the left, turn and shoot all in one sweet movement.

But the eyes of attendant scouts at Wexham Park were all on Chris Boothe who also moved onto 11 Conference goals with a stake in the four minutes before the interval.

With the Rebels pressing forward, Boothe was sent clear through the middle by David Harlow and he tapped the ball home after knocking it past the outrushing Delroy Preddie.

Anyone seeking excuses for another diffident performance by Slough will take consolation in statistics - the Rebels have now won only one of five Conference games against the Boro - or injuries and unavailabilities.

The only changes to the line-up, which failed miserably at Telford was the inclusion of defenders Chris Honor and Lee Harvey for midfielders Barry Rake and Neil Catlin.

Harvey took up a position in the centre of defence, Alan Paris moved to right back, Honor into a three-man midfield with West sent forward to partner Ansil Bushay and Garfield Blackman.
The reorganised Rebels were, however, unable to get a gap on the game early on but luckily Boothe had yet to find his range with two chances as the Cherries ran the show.

Slough's first chance took 22 minutes to arrive, West jinking his way past the advanced defence on half way and sending Bushay clear.

An unspectacular shot went straight into the waiting arms of Stuart Mackenzie. Famborough always looked sharper on the break and while trevor Baron hoovered up most of the fall-out, Boothe got free agin and crashed a shot against Preddie which he gathered at the second attempt. Honor promptly did the same at the other end.

But Slough, oozing frustration, were caught when Paris, who had already strayed into midfield positions, then decided to join the attack.

When he had a shot charged down on the edge of the box, Harlow exploited the gaps and Boothe gratefully collected his 19th goal of the season.

Boothe had two more chances and Darren Robson another as the second half repeated the pattern.

And with Slough unable to seriously threaten from open play, it was left to Mark Pye to gave Farnborough their most anxious moment so far from a corner, his header cleared under the bar then off the line.

But Farnborough's defence, which had snapped up every marginal ball through out game continued to defy the Rebels.

Blackman and Honor both had efforts stopped short of the mark though neither had much of a sting in it.

With only an erratic service of balls behind the defence or crosses from the wings, Slough looked stumped.

Until a fortuitous combination of Fiore and West produced the equaliser, merited if only for perseverance's sake.

But Preddie nearly threw it all away again when he mistimed a run off his line. Former Reading striker Trevor Senior, never at his best with his feet, took two stabs but somehow the admirable Baron saved the day.

Andy Clement fluffed a golden chance to snatch maximum points but put a left foot shot wide from 10 yards. And Paris, back at full back, executed the tackle of the game to deny Farnborough on their final break.

A booking for Andy Clement, one of three on the night following Saturday's at Telford, will probably mean a three-match suspension.