County Cup Progress For Rebels

Slough looked to continue where they left off at Larges Lane last week, after Bracknell had given them a tough game and nearly got a win to knock the Rebels out.

Slough reverted back to a changed team, missing first choice front pairing of Ullathorne and Bartley with Stott suspended, McCann & Howard were rested. Back into the side came Mautone, Kemp, Winston, Deaner and Markman. Winstons pace took him through early on in the game as he got past the last defender but as he came to the keeper his early effort got past Hutt, but didn't get the right side of the post, as the ball hit the inside of the post and fell kindly to a covering Bracknell defender.

Soon after a Kemp free kick found the head of Daly who directed the ball back across the goal into the path of Deaner. The striker stooped to head the ball, but could not get enough power on the effort to trouble Hutt in the Robins goal. In Bracknell's first meaningful attack, Glynn was able to exploit the space left by Gilkes attacking and cut inside two Slough defenders before shooting narrowly wide.

Slough's goal came after twenty minutes when a move down the right flank saw Paul Barrowcliff break through with the ball. As he cut inside two players his effort was blocked, but the ball fell to Hawthorne who set up Gilkes 25 yards out. Gilkes controlled the ball and let fly and the ball flew in hitting the underside of the bar on it's way over the goal line.

Slough nearly extended their lead minutes later. Good interplay and quick passing saw Haki released down the left flank. He cut inside and pulled the ball back to Markman, but the young striker could not direct his effort as the ball went narrowly wide of the top corner.

With Slough's wingbacks attacking at every opportunity Bracknell began to exploit the space left in the flanks. One such attack saw Smith released into plenty of room and as the ball ran into the area his first time effort sailed harmlessly over. Shortly after, Bracknell almost got their equaliser as their midfielder found some space 25 yards out, and in an emulation of Gilkes earlier effort let fly and was unlucky to see his effort strike the top of the bar and go out.

With ten minutes remaining until half time, Day found himself in space inside the Slough area. His low side footed effort did not find the target though, when he should have done a lot better.Day again had another chance, this time a lot more difficult, to equalise for his side minutes before half time. A left wing cross from Crittenden was et by the striker under pressure from Daly, but the effort went narrowly wide of Mautone's right hand post.

Day again was the recipient of the first chance of the first half. Released clean through Slough's back three only faced by Mautone, his effort, whilst of a comfortably saving height, was well kept out by Mautone diving close to his left, deflecting the ball out for a corner.

12 minutes into the second half, a Winston corner was met by the head of Daly, but whilst his effort beat Hutt, a defender was on hand to clear the ball off the line. Soon after Markman had a glorious chance after being put clean through as the Robins defence appealed for offside, but as he progressed in from an angle, he lacked composure and shot comfortably wide. A minute later, a harmless looking backpass to Hutt was sliced goalwards by the keeper, but fortunately, the Robins keeper was able to stop the ball comfortably before it went it to the chant of "Are you Barthez in disguise?" coming from the Slough fans behind the goal.

Day again was guilty of not making Mautone work harder to keep an effort out with 20 minutes remaining. The striker saw his strongly hit volley go straight at Mautone, and although the Slough keeper couldn't hold the ball at the first attempt, he was able to punce on the rebound under little pressure.