Former Rebel returns to haunt Slough

Slough's first away day of the season saw them travel to North Leigh and the picturesque surroundings of Eynsham Park looking to capitalise on Saturday's positive derby day performance.

It was not to be as a dismal Slough crawled out of the blocks. Almost immediately Leigh attacked down the left and Harper was not able to stop the cross. The ball found Mark Simms totally unmarked in the centre and rammed a header home passed a helpless Jackson.

Simms almost doubled his tally four minutes later when he created space and forced Jackson into turning the ball around the post for a corner.

Slough who were looking totally disjointed found themselves chasing shadows as North Leigh spread the play well. On 15 minutes skipper James Pritchard was caught in possession as he tried to do too much and Andy McCabe (no relation incidentally) broke clear - Ryan Fenton tried to get across to cover and instead hauled down McCabe conceding the penalty. The referee showing great leniency failed to even book Fenton. Former Slough flop Chris Allen stepped and showed great composure to send Jackson the wrong way to make it two nil.

Unable to get a foothold in the game, Slough resorted to long ball tactics leaving Jordan and Platt totally isolated up front. Danny Jordan continued to work hard and fashioned the first chance for the Rebels with a neat touch, turn and shout from twenty yards. Unfortunately for the Rebels faithful it was high and wide.

Moments later Allen should have made it three when neat link up played created an opening at the fire post only for him to fire wide.

Slough came closest to an effort on target when a long throw from Dean Harper on the half hour evaded everyone and left Leigh keeper Barrett to paw the ball clear.

A dismal first half display was brought to an end shortly after a crunching two footed challenge from Harper on McCabe earned him a booking.

The ever optimistic Slough faithful hoped that a change of ends and the chance to kick down slope might see them mount a comeback. Sweetman also switched to a 3-5-2 formation replacing an isolated John Gray with Laurence Brown in an effort to take control of the midfield which had been overrun in the first half.

There was a brief respite for the Rebels and some hope when a whipped cross from Pritchard following a foul on Platt had Huxley stretching to clear the ball.

North Leigh were not to be kept on the back foot for long and magnificent cross field pass from McCabe picked out Mark Simms about 30 yards out on the left hand side of goal, he looked up and was able to lob the ball into the top right hand corner passed a despairing Jackson.

North Leigh used the opportunity to give their squad players a run out and Futcher was soon involved as again Leigh sprayed the ball around nicely this time his cross finding Burnell who again was left in acres of space 8 yards from goal to make it 4-0.

Slough replaced Riddell and McConigley with Gumbs and Attrell and Gumbs quickly showed some passion and aggression which had been sorely missing however it was not enough to prevent North Leigh adding further to their tally.

Jackson added a fifth as he was allowed to carry the ball from one side of the pitch to the other unchallenged before firing the shot passed a disconsolate Jamie Jackson. Slough barely had time to draw breath before it was 6-0 when Cooper's shot was deflected into the net.

North Leigh showed that a neat passing game and energy can work at this level as they coasted passed the Rebels.

Slough were able to take scant consolation from a late wonder goal from a surprising source. Steve Daly who had stayed forward following a corner found the ball breaking to him twenty five yards from goal when he nonchalantly struck the ball with the outside of his right foot into the top right hand corner.

It was far from enough to disguise a truly woeful Rebels performance. Sweetman made it clear that such an effort was unacceptable and Slough will be looking to bounce back swiftly at Cinderford on Saturday.