Rebels Win Seven Goal Thriller

Slough overcame Aldershot Town in the Full Members Cup after a goal-filled extra time to progress further in the competition.

With Slough's friendly against Yeading yesterday cancelled, Slough decided to give first team recalls to some players returning from injury. One of the most notable returning from injury was Paul Barrowcliff, who has been sorely missed in the Slough midfield. Slough also gave debuts to new signing Dylan Kerr and former Yeovil defender Dean Chandler.

Slough started the match brightly and were dominating the match in the opening twenty minutes, with former Shot Paul Holsgrove and Paul Barrowcliff bossing the midfield.

The Rebels scored with only twelve minutes on the clock. Achamfour dallied on the ball and Deaner stole the ball off him. Deaner would have been through on goal was it not for Achamfour's pull back and a free kick was awarded. Luckily for the Shots Achamfour was only given a yellow card. From the resulting free kick new signing Dylan Kerr stepped up and neatly curled his free kick to Searle's right hand post into the bottom corner to give Slough a deserved lead.

Four minutes later the Rebels should have doubled that lead. Haynes crossed in from wide on the left after good play by Harvey. His cross fell perfectly onto the head of Chris White, who headed wide.

He soon made amends for that miss by producing an excellent ball to put Junior Haynes through on goal. Haynes cut inside the defence and his shot was brilliantly pushed onto the post by Searle in the Aldershot goal.

With 32 minutes gone Aldershot had their first real effort of the match. It came from one of their first team fringe players; Toby Sumner, who saw his powerful free kick from 35 yard pushed away well by Honey.

Soon after, the Rebels were on the attack again. Simpson broke free of his marker on the right and crossed the ball in for Deaner, who headed over as the ball was just too high for the Rebels striker.

Simpson was in the action again five minutes later when a move between Holsgrove and Simpson resulted in the latter curling the ball well over the bar when he should at the very least hit the target.

On 40 minutes Aldershot equalised. Kamara produced an inch perfect ball for Pearson, who lost Townley and Chandler and curled the ball into the bottom corner, leaving Honey with no chance.

That goal seemed to give the Shots youngsters more confidence. They were outplayed for most of the half, but they never gave up and the half ended with Aldershot looking the most likely to score as the Rebels lost their shape and looked lacking in confidence.

Aldershot, who were clearly more confident after scoring five minutes before the break, looked to score again just after the restart. The impressive Peters though saw his goalbound shot blocked by White for a corner.

Soon after though the Rebels had a five minute spell of attacking pressure where they could have took the lead. Good play between Townley and Simpson saw the former Yeovil midfielder shoot wide when through on goal and then when Barrowcliff bundled his way through the Aldershot defence he saw his right footed shot pushed round the post by Searle.

After this spell had ended the game was more end to end, with both sets of players clearly struggling. Slough because a lot of players had just returned from long term injuries, and Aldershot because they young players were not used to playing a high tempo game.

The impressive Sumner was keen to shoot on sight from any distance, and he produced an excellent shot in the first half which was well saved, and he did likewise in the second and his 30 yard low strike was saved by Honey.

Although Slough were having a lot of possession in this half, they were not creating chances and those few chances that they did create in this half were wasted. On 77 minutes Aldershot had a chance to win the match, as Pearson turned Chandler inside out before shooting inches past Honey's post.

With two minutes left before extra time it seemed that Slough would get a winner. Townley ran at the Aldershot defence and was tripped in the Aldershot area. He stayed on his feet though and pulled the ball back to Haynes, whose control five yards out deserted him and the ball went into a relieved Searle's arms.

Extra time followed, and, three minutes in, Slough took the lead. Holsgrove made a run from midfield and played the ball back to Haynes, who saw his shot saved, but the ball fell invitingly for Barrowcliff, who saw his half volley fly into the net.

Just as it seemed as though this would be enough, with the Aldershot players looking drained and tired they scored two goals in the space of six minutes. They both came from Peters after poor Slough defending on both occasions.

Luckily though Slough managed to equalise and then grab a winner. Their equaliser came when Kerr floated a free kick in from the right onto the head of Holsgrove, who saw his effort fly into the back of the net.

The winner came with nearly the last kick of the game. Kerr again floated the ball in from a corner and the ball was met by Slough's skilful substitute Clement James to send the Rebels through.