Following on from the 3-3 draw in October, Slough Town and Aylesbury United served up another thriller that the home side eventually won 5-3 as the Ducks’ poor record at Holloways Park continued.

Coming into the game after a harrowing 6-0 Red Insure Cup thrashing at Royston Town, United’s performance was improved and more committed throughout, and had they sneaked a point Slough would have had few complaints.

At times, individual mistakes cost the greens, and no more so than in the eleventh minute when the opening goal arrived. Jason Blackett’s over elaboration saw the ball robbed and moved quickly into the path of the Rebels’ leading scorer Edward Smith who turned provider on this occasion, squaring for Jamie McClurg to ram home. 1-0 Slough

Scott Harris had hit the bar in the first 30 seconds of the game, as a poorly marked free kick was helped his way, and Leigh Rumbold’s header at a corner kick was caught easily by Jack Sillitoe moments later, so the early lead was merited, yet, lasting less than a minute, proved to be short lived.

Keith Williams’s free kick from wide on the right was caught by the wind, goalkeeper Jake Somerville losing it in flight allowing Stacey Field to roll the ball into the empty net as it dropped to him. 1-1

Straight away United had a glorious chance to go ahead when Ben Baines’s ball into the box was chested back by Blackett to winger Zack Reynolds who blazed over the bar from the penalty area perimeter.

It was then Slough’s turn for a clear opening when McClurg squared for Darren Wheeler who took too long getting a shot away, allowing Sillitoe to set himself and save.

The game was wide open for most of the first half, and play was quickly at the other end as Keith Williams’s swirling cross had to be tipped over by the alert Somerville, but it was the hosts who scored next two minutes later.

A long ball forward caught Bill Morgan out in the air, and as it dropped behind him Scott Harris was able to wriggle free, and with no defensive cover had time to pick his spot and place the ball beyond Sillitoe. 2-1 Slough

Town heaped on further pressure in search of a third, Smith’s shot looping off a defender and behind for a corner after good link up on the left with Ryan Parsons, before the subsequent low corner kick routine saw Warren Harris shoot for goal with an effort that was blocked on its’ way in.

A superb through ball from Steve Hatch found Field, only for Adam Foulser to catch him in the nick of time with an excellent intervention, and Keith Williams struck a 35-yard free kick well over as Aylesbury showed they were very much still in the game.

Their best moment and chance of an equaliser came in the 37th minute when a driven pass downfield released Field who cut inside but fired well wide of the target.

Slough had the ball in the net again in first half stoppage time, but referee Mr Panconi had already blown his whistle for a foul on Jack Wood in the build up.

Half-time: Slough 2-1 Aylesbury

Kick off to the second half started with the relentless pace of the game showing no signs of letting up, as Field toe-poked an effort over the bar, and Warren Harris seeing a low shot saved by the legs of Sillitoe inside the first three minutes.

It didn’t take long for Aylesbury to restore parity with a well worked goal. Field broke down the left and sent in a deep cross that was nodded back across goal by Baines for Blackett to power into the net. 2-2

The Rebels nearly hit back immediately, in controversial fashion, as Keith Williams appeared to be fouled by a stray arm of Scott Harris in the build up, before the Slough man went on to fire in a shot that Sillitoe did well to save with the Ducks left back lying prostrate on the floor.

The sides were on level terms for sixteen minutes this time, before the home team went ahead for a third time of the afternoon. Joint managers Baker and Underwood can take the plaudits for a telling substitution, Johnnie Dyer nipping in ahead of his marker to reach Smith’s flick on from a free kick and find the net with his second touch. 3-2 Slough

Dyer should have scored again soon afterwards when a searching cross from the left picked him out, but his headed over flew over the bar.

Aylesbury made a triple substitution as Paul Edgeworth, Joey Acheampong and Dom Petrucci replaced Ben Baines, Jason Blackett and Zack Reynolds, but sadly it didn’t have the same effect as the Slough change, as within seconds the lead was extended.

Warren Harris cut the ball back for Smith to score his second and finally give his side a commanding lead. 4-2 Slough

Still Aylesbury weren’t done, and pulled a goal back just four minutes later, Keith Williams surprising everyone as his driven attempt from a long range free kick found the bottom corner with Somerville a spectator. 3-4

Although it ultimately lead to their demise, the Ducks were determined to snatch a point at the death. A late corner kick saw Sillitoe join the attack, and he came closest to heading the ball before an almighty scramble in which he, and various other players, took mad swings before Slough cleared behind for another corner.

This was less profitable, the hosts countered successfully and with United’s goalkeeper stranded up field Smith had time to fend off Keith Williams, steady himself, and roll home the fifth goal from 30-yards. 5-3 Slough

United’s hopes of taking anything from the game were finally extinguished, but their better performance was encouraging going into more tough matches with Beaconsfield SYCOB and then Chesham United over the coming week.