Rebels and Sutton share eight goals

The Rebels needed to pull further away from the relegation zone and had a good chance of gaining three points against a mid table Sutton side.

Good news for the Rebels was that inspirational midfielder Darron Wilkinson was surprisingly announced in the starting line up, despite no match practice in the reserves.

Wilkinson's presence in midfield was noted immediately. Sutton's midfield had no time to settle on the ball with Wilkinson hassling the Sutton players into mistakes.

It was the Rebels who had the first real attack of the game. Barrowcliff rode the challenge of two Sutton players and played the ball to Holsgrove who produced an excellent backheel for Barrowcliff again, he in turned laid the ball off to Haynes, with only Sutton keeper Dunn to beat, but Haynes blazed his effort over the bar. He should have scored.

The Rebels were left to rue that miss because twelve minutes into the game Sutton took the lead. Townley tried to run the ball out of play only to be tacked by Haworth. He passed the ball to Whitmarsh, who curled the ball to the far post an Ekoku bundled the ball in at the far post.

The goal for Sutton seemed to make the Rebels play even better. Half chances fell for Holsgrove and Marshall before the Rebels got back on level terms. Haynes found himself running at a defender on the left. His shot was only parried by Dunn and with Marshall following up he made no mistake from two yards.

The Rebels went further in front just a minute later. Barrowcliff's corner fell to Cross who saw his volley deflected off a Sutton defender and into the corner of the net. The Rebels were arguably playing some of their best football of the season with one of the strongest teams the Rebels have been able to field in a long time.

They went two goals ahead when Marshall found himself in space at an angle, and shot past Dunn at his near post. Before half time, Rob Haworth sent a Sutton chance over the bar, and Dwight Marshall missed a chance to complete his hat-trick and put Slough out of sight.

Many fans found themselves at half time thinking that if the Rebels maintained their good performance then they could have added to their lead and come away with a healthy win. But four minutes after the restart Darron Wilkinson injured a calf and had to be replaced by Mark Hall.

The change affected Slough and the Rebels were now looking nervous and edgy and the U's took full advantage of this. On fifty three minutes a scramble in the box saw the ball bounce awkwardly and hit Paul Holsgrove on the hand for a penalty to be awarded. Former Rebel Danny Bolt stepped up and sent Mautone the wrong way.

A minute later, Sutton thought they had equalised when Nko Ekoku sent over a low cross near the byline which Rob Haworth bundled home. However, the goal was disallowed by the linesman who adjudged that Haworth had handled the ball.

The decision just made Sutton more determined to grab an equaliser and they did when Daly and Stott left the ball for each other and the ball fell to Paul Whitmarsh. The striker, who so nearly joined the Rebels two seasons ago, saw his initial shot saved by Mautone, but stabbed home the rebound.

After the equaliser Slough seemed to get back into the match more. Holsgrove shot over from the edge of the area and later Timothy's excellent run saw him shoot towards the top corner only to see Dunn superbly tip the ball over.

Despite the fact though that the Rebels were looking more threatening in attack, they still looked vulnerable in defence and it was no surprise when Sutton went in front. The dangerous Ekoku, who caused Garry Cross all kinds of problems, pulled the ball back from the byline for Whitmarsh to grab his second.

Just as many supporters feared that Slough would suffer another home defeat, Mark Hall picked the ball up from Garry Cross, drifted past a Sutton defender and superbly curled the ball into the far post.

Buoyant after their late equaliser, Slough almost stole it at the end. Barrowcliff's corner was met by Daly, but his header somehow went inches past the post when it looked like it would sneak in.