From The Slough Web Site

[GazzaBTFC]

Slough struggled against their lively opposition this afternoon and slumped to a two goal home defeat as Billerciay completed the league double over the Rebels. Despite coming out four goals better off than they did in the corresponding fixture last season where Slough were thumped six nil, the match was largely controlled by the visiting side.

Slough were missing the work experience players from Brentford, Mousinho, Masters and Steele, so a 4-4-2 formation saw Glen Harris return to the side on the left of midfield and the return of keeper Michael Parkin.

The match started off at a terrific tempo and both sides were hurried in possession of the ball in what was a scrappy start to the match. As Billericay settled, their passing game imposed the match onto the home side who were having to work hard to combat the passing manouevres being made by the Essex side. It was the visitors who had the ball in the net early on as well. A Leon Hunter corner was cleared by Slough back to the Ricay midfielder who pumped the ball back into the near post finding captain Jamie Dormer unmarked and able to head home, but the goal was ruled out for offisde by the match officials.

THe away side had the upper hand in the match and Slough could not close down Warren Ryan enough, allowing the Billericay midfielder to dictate play from the centre of the park and it was Ryan who went close with just nine minutes gone. Receiving the ball 25 yards out, he hit a curling effort which Parkin gathered at the second attempt.

Slough struck back though as they came back into the match. Josias Carbon took a free kick on the half way line which was only half cleared by Robin Trott. Leigh Mason jumped on the clearance and swung a cross in from the right wing. The ball made its way across the face of goal to Harris who managed to scuff his shot into the floor, but the ball was still heading into the corner of the goal. Ricky Millard flung himself to his left to pull off a dramatic save, tipping the ball around the post.

RIcay had the next chance of the match with a somewhat ambitious effort from Ryan, some 40 yards out, much to the disgust of new manager Matt Jones, as his shot went well over Parkin's crossbar and Danny Hockton went close with a great effort shortly after. Bringing the ball down on his chest, his volleyed shot on the turn had Parkin sprawling out across his goal, but the effort went just wide of the top right corner. Moments later, Hockton's strike partner Nathan Elder had a header and from four yards out Hockton got a flick on the ball to change the flight and somehow Parkin got something on it to keep it out before Woodruffe cleared.

Slough were fighting hard to keep themselves in the match and Harris again saw a shot saved by Millard, this time a lot more comfortably as the midfielder did not catch hold of his effort and it made for a simple save for the visiting keeper.

At the other end, Hockton and Elder were causing Steve Daly and Mark Avery all manner of problems with their strength and Hockton again went close, this time his shot on the turn was deflected wide by Daly. From the resulting corner, Pat Sappleton, Dormer and Elder all had efforts blocked in the area before the ball was finally cleared. Elder brought a good save from Parkin soon after. A crossfield ball was laid neatly into the strikers path by Matt Game, and his first time effort from the edge of the box was well saved low down to Parkin's right hand side. Elder didn't make the same mistake in the 41st minute though as Game again put him in and he slotted low past Parkin into the corner of the net to put the visitors, deservedly, a goal in front.

The second half began in much the same vein as the first had finished, with the away side pushing home their advantage and it wasn't long before Parkin was tested. Avery half cleared a cross which fell to Ryan on the edge of the area and his scuffed shot fell to Elder in the area. His shot on the turn though lacked any real pace and Parkin was able to save comfortably. The away side were soon two in front though as Ryan again pulled the strings from midfield. Going past Wilkinson, the Billericay midfielder slotted a low through ball in dissecting the home defence. Dormer ran onto the ball and slotted low across the goal past Parkin and just inside the post.

The away side continued to push forwards and as the ball was worked to Hunter on the edge who hit a low drive just wide of Parkin's right hand post. Elder was also looking to extend his sides lead and hit an ambitious volleyed effort from 30 yards, which certainly had the power behind it, but lacked the accuracy as the ball flew over the bar. It was Elder again getting on the end of a Billericay move, and again, he failed to find the target, this time heading well over from a high looping Dave McSweeney cross.

Slough did manage to get the ball in the Billericay net with just over an hour gone after Harris crossed from the right, Hodges miscued his volley and the ball fell nicely to the run of Andy Ballard who slammed home from close range, but the officials spotted Hodges was offside from the initial cross and the effort was ruled out. The away side were always looking dangerous moving forwards and Hunter tested Parkin again from the edge of the area, but again, Parkin was not severely tested and was able to save comfortably.

Elder should really have added another for the away side soon after as Hockton cut in from the left and hit a curling effort which Parkin did well to beat out. Elder was running in line with the rebound at the back post and completely missed the ball with the goal at his mercy.

Following on from a series of substitutions and positional reshuffles, the away side still continued to create the chances in the match. Game had moved into the middle of the field now and had the ball laid to him by Hunter, but his first time effort was wayward and went well wide. The young midfielder created the next chance for his side on his own, drifitng through the middle of the park and getting some space on the edge of the area, but Parkin was more than a match for his low shot.

In the dying moments, the scourge of last years 6-0 hammering for Slough in Ross Wareham who scored four of his sides goals that day, received the ball in a swift counter attack down the right wing. His low cross-cum-shot got all the way through to the back post where Elder, perhaps put off by the slide of Carbon in front of him, again missed the ball with the goal gaping.

Slough can take heart from a battling performance against what is clearly a very good Billericay side, although will be disappointed to have created so little following their good performance against Hampton on Monday.