Stevenage Borough
4
Perkins (3), Wordsworth (2-1 pen), Beevor (54), Grazioli (87)
Slough Town
2
Browne (4), Bolt (65 pen)
League
Attendance: 1413
Unknown
After the jubilation of two days earlier, Monday's Conference encounter back at Broadhall Way brought the other emotion as the Rebels went down in a game packed full of entertainment and some controversy.
And after Saturday's tense Trophy clash this game saw an amazing start, with both teams setting off like an express train and creating two goals in the opening four minutes.
The Rebels were 3-1 down early in the second half but as Stevenage found themselves down to ten men, Slough pulled back to 3-2, then got hit on the break at the end as they pushed for an equaliser.
The Slough side saw two enforced changes from the team that won on the same pitch on Saturday — Gary Brazil was left out, resting a badly bruised foot, and Paul Hardyman, who damaged a hamstring at the end of Saturday's game, was replaced by Mark Fiore.
Stevenage took the lead on three minutes with their first meaningful attack. Dean Wordsworth saw his stinging drive tipped over the bar by Paul Wilkerson, but from the resulting corner Steve Perkins made the most of Gary Crawshaw's tricky swinging cross to drill home from close range.
Straight from the restart Slough levelled, and it was Corey Browne, desperately unlucky not to get a goal against his old side on Saturday, who got the equaliser.
Browne broke onto a neat ball which opened up the Stevenage defence. His first effort from the edge of the box was parried by keeper Des Gallagher but only straight back to the Slough striker, who made no mistake second time around.
The end-to-end nature continued, but Stevenage's second goal brought moments of controversy. First Tery Angus was harshly judged to have brought down Robin Trott inside the area despite appearing not to have made any contact with the player. Paul Wilkerson was unable to save the day as he had done on Saturday, and Wordsworth stuck in the resulting spot kick to make it 2-1. But Wordsworth's goal celebrations led to him being reported to officials by match stewards for allegedly giving a V-sign gesture to Slough fans.
The second half brought more attacking play from both teams, and nine minutes of the half had elapsed when Stevenage had made it 3-1. Perkins put a terrific hall over the top for the pacey Stuart Beevor to chase down, and Beevor fired right-footed past Wilkerson into the left hand corner.
Browne then carved out a superb chance for himself with a run that ploughed through the Borough backline. His finish didn't match his run though and Gallger made the save.
Slough pulled a goal back on 65 minutes, when Steve Holden, only on the pitch for ten minutes, was seen to use his forearm on Cliff Hercules inside the box.
The referee showed Holden the red card, and Danny Bolt scored from the spot.
Against ten men the Rebels dominated proceedings for a long period, but found the home defence too strong to breach for a third time. Three minutes from time Danny Bailey tried his luck from 30 yards, but although his driven right-foot effort was low and accurate, Gallagher held the ball at the second attempt.
Then in a classic counter-attacking move Stevenage secured the points. Gallagher's drop kick cleared the Slough defence, finding its way out to Mark Smith on the right flank. His fine run to the area ended with a cross to Giuliano who lobbed the advancing Paul Wilkerson and the ball went in off the underside of the bar.
And after Saturday's tense Trophy clash this game saw an amazing start, with both teams setting off like an express train and creating two goals in the opening four minutes.
The Rebels were 3-1 down early in the second half but as Stevenage found themselves down to ten men, Slough pulled back to 3-2, then got hit on the break at the end as they pushed for an equaliser.
The Slough side saw two enforced changes from the team that won on the same pitch on Saturday — Gary Brazil was left out, resting a badly bruised foot, and Paul Hardyman, who damaged a hamstring at the end of Saturday's game, was replaced by Mark Fiore.
Stevenage took the lead on three minutes with their first meaningful attack. Dean Wordsworth saw his stinging drive tipped over the bar by Paul Wilkerson, but from the resulting corner Steve Perkins made the most of Gary Crawshaw's tricky swinging cross to drill home from close range.
Straight from the restart Slough levelled, and it was Corey Browne, desperately unlucky not to get a goal against his old side on Saturday, who got the equaliser.
Browne broke onto a neat ball which opened up the Stevenage defence. His first effort from the edge of the box was parried by keeper Des Gallagher but only straight back to the Slough striker, who made no mistake second time around.
The end-to-end nature continued, but Stevenage's second goal brought moments of controversy. First Tery Angus was harshly judged to have brought down Robin Trott inside the area despite appearing not to have made any contact with the player. Paul Wilkerson was unable to save the day as he had done on Saturday, and Wordsworth stuck in the resulting spot kick to make it 2-1. But Wordsworth's goal celebrations led to him being reported to officials by match stewards for allegedly giving a V-sign gesture to Slough fans.
The second half brought more attacking play from both teams, and nine minutes of the half had elapsed when Stevenage had made it 3-1. Perkins put a terrific hall over the top for the pacey Stuart Beevor to chase down, and Beevor fired right-footed past Wilkerson into the left hand corner.
Browne then carved out a superb chance for himself with a run that ploughed through the Borough backline. His finish didn't match his run though and Gallger made the save.
Slough pulled a goal back on 65 minutes, when Steve Holden, only on the pitch for ten minutes, was seen to use his forearm on Cliff Hercules inside the box.
The referee showed Holden the red card, and Danny Bolt scored from the spot.
Against ten men the Rebels dominated proceedings for a long period, but found the home defence too strong to breach for a third time. Three minutes from time Danny Bailey tried his luck from 30 yards, but although his driven right-foot effort was low and accurate, Gallagher held the ball at the second attempt.
Then in a classic counter-attacking move Stevenage secured the points. Gallagher's drop kick cleared the Slough defence, finding its way out to Mark Smith on the right flank. His fine run to the area ended with a cross to Giuliano who lobbed the advancing Paul Wilkerson and the ball went in off the underside of the bar.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Paul Wilkerson
- 2 Garry Smart
- 3 Mark Fiore 15
- 4 Matt Stowell
- 5 Cliff Hercules
- 6 Terry Angus 12
- 7 Danny Bailey
- 8 Corey Browne
- 9 Mark West 14
- 10 Lloyd Owusu
- 11 Danny Bolt
Substitutes
- 12 Gary McGinnis 6
- 14 Gary Abbott 9
- 15 Derek Simpson 3