Rebels Return To Winning Ways

After a poor performance the previous week, Steve Browne made a few changes across the pitch including the formation and the surprise return of Adrian Blake to the Slough goal, which pulled off a superb win for the Rebels over rivals Thame.

Despite a delayed start due to the audio system still blaring out music, Slough came out the strongest. An encouraging run down the left flank combined with some neat footwork by Byron Bubb guided the ball to Tony Boot but his strike hit the post and was cleared by the Thame defence.

Michael Gilkes also had a decent run down the left, his pass to Tony Boot was intercepted by Thame's defence but Darron Wilkinson got to the rebound, but under pressure could do no better than to launch the ball over the stand.

A mishap from Dean Palmer resulted in a dangerous looking cross from ex-Rebel Mark West but Slough Keeper Adrian Blake cleanly collected the ball in mid air. Ricky Browne was the next victim of the Thame attack, his under pressure clearance was sliced to West's feet, but the usually potent striker struck the ball just wide of the post.

Tony Boot headed a great effort pushed over the bar at the over end moments later, a Ryan Spencer run and cross met him perfectly but Boot headed over from a tight angle.

Boot was in the thick of the action again moments later, his pass to Wilkinson resulted in a goal line clearance but Boot's drilled effort from the rebound was pushed round the post by Alan Foster in the Thame goal with a Dean Palmer header hitting the post from the resulting corner before being cleared.

Adrian Blake, making his return to first team action for Slough, looked in fine form, a Mark West long range strike, destined for the top corner was saved by the leaping Blake and his throw led to a long range strike by Michael Gilkes at the other end, narrowly going over the bar.

Shortly after, Michael Gilkes was bought down on the edge of the Thame box near the edge, Gilkes stepped up to slam the free kick goal wards fooling everyone including the Foster in the Thame goal, but his ingenuity was not rewarded as the ball hit the side netting.

It was on the stroke of half time that Slough took the lead, an effort by Ryan Spencer from the edge of the box hit the cross bar but Tony Boot was alert to the chance and was on hand to head home from close range giving the home team the deserved lead at half time.

With half time over, Thame had the first opportunity of the second halfAdrian Blake was tested again soon after the break, Mark West's pass to Mark Avery was struck sweetly but Blake once again pulled off a superb save showing his loan spell at Maidenhead has given him the chance to regain first team fitness.

There was some good football played by Slough, a three way pass including Spencer, Boot and a Bubb strike was pushed over from the keeper, Steve Daly was unable to find the target with his header from the resulting Gilkes corner as his header went straight to the keepers hands.

Thame had some good chances too, Mark West and Alex Stewart's strikes were saved by Blake and struck wide, West had Thame's best chance of the game but Blake once again pulled off an excellent save.

Slough made two changes in the last fifteen minutes, Christian Metcalfe replaced Ryan Williams and Sammy Winston came on for the scorer Tony Boot. Thame had another effort soon after, a slick attack set up a tight angle header for Mark West but his effort rolled wide of the mark.

Michael Gilkes wasted his best chance of the game, his quick feet saw him place the ball through Abbassi's legs but his strike looped over the bar and hit the clock.

Slough extended their lead, again in the last minute of the game, a great run from Bubb and cross from Metcalfe met the found Sammy Winston's run to the back post into space where the fans favourite slammed home his volley to put the points in the bag for the recently under performing Slough team.