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The National League U19 Alliance
6th
19pts

Robbo's Rebels make hard work of Cowes

Slough Town

Slough Town

3
Hall (45), Deaner (69), Rainford (72)
Cowes Sports

Cowes Sports

1
O'Rourke (59)
FA Cup Attendance: 461 Chris White
Second half goals from Andrew Deaner and Dave Rainford took Slough Town into the FA Cup third round qualifying on Saturday. But the performance against Cowes Sports at Wexham Park was far from convincing, despite the 3-1 scoreline.

The Rebels started slowly but looked to have the measure of the Wessex League side as midfielder Mark Hall, returning after a thigh injury, pounced on a mistake in the Cowes defence, only to have his shot well blocked by Joe McCormack.

A well-rehearsed corner from Slough almost brought the opening goal as Mark Hawthorne blasted Micky Engwell's cut back to the edge of the box, against the bar on 23 minutes. The Rebels were handed a blow just a minute later as centre back Steve Daly, returning to the Slough line-up for the first time this season after a long lay-off with a serious knee injury, had to be replaced by Rainford.

Cowes Sports had long periods of possession but the difference between the two teams showed as the visitors from the Isle of Wight failed to find the final ball into the box nearly every time. Slough had appeals for a penalty turned down on the half hour mark when Hall turned superbly in the box, only to be felled by a Cowes defender yards from goal.

An unlikely attack from Rebels centre back Chris White brought the best chance of the game as he beat four Cowes players and forced a great save from McCormack. A precise free-kick from Rainford picked out Al-James Hannigan inside the visitors box but, despite soaring above the Cowes defence, he failed to connect with the ball, much to Rainford's frustration.

The breakthrough arrived right on halftime as a pin-point 30-yard pass from Rainford found Youness Nabil in space on the edge of the box. Nabil turned the defender and rifled a vicious shot past McCormack, which rebounded off the post. Luckily for Slough, the ball fell into the path of Hall, who had the easy task of pushing the ball into an empty net.

Five minutes into the second half the Rebels replaced Hall, who appeared to be struggling with injury, with Deaner, whc almost capped his arrival with an instant goal, heading wide from Rainford's cross.

Cowes always threatened to do something if given the chance and when the Slough defence fell asleep, they found the killer blow and a route back into the tie. Jamie O'Rourke was found by Nigel Stevens at the far post and despite having his header saved by Danny Honey, he reacted quickest to blast home an equaliser on 59 minutes.

An ominous midweek replay in the Isle of Wight loomed for Slough until Deaner finished off one of three chances in quick succession. First, he missed a superb cross fron Nabil just yards out, then Deaner headed Paul Barrowcliff's cross just over the bar before glancing the ball in off the post after 69 minutes from Engwell's clever cross from the left.

Three minutes later, substitute David Adekola turned neatly inside the box and, as his shot was blocked by the keeper Rainford stormed in to stroke the ball home with the outside of his foot to send Slough into the next round.

Another training ground corner from Engwell and Hawthorne went inches over the bar late on and, four minnutes from time, Adekola had a shot well saved. Chris White picked up the man of the match award and the Rebels prize for the win is a tie with Carshalton Athletic on Saturday, October 2.

Wexham Park boss Graham Roberts was satisfied with his side's FA Cup second qualifying round victory against Cowes Sports on Saturday. "We knew that they would be a strong side and at the end of the day it was a comfortable win for us," said Roberts. "We made hard work of it but at of the day we got the result that we wanted."

Cowes Sports Lineup

Rebels

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