Cup Progress

Friel goal enough to send Rebels through.

Our match at Metropolitan Police was played on a warm sunny afternoon, but on a damp pitch after days of almost continuous rain.

Both sides opened warily of each other, but we won our first corner after four minutes. Alan Pluckrose's cross was headed goal bound by Andy Sayer, struck a defender before falling to Les Briley who stabbed the ball just wide.

We continued to push forward, with both Ian Hazel and Andy Sayer having opportunities to score, and the Police side were restricted to occasional breakaways. Corner after corner put the home defence under pressure, with PIuckrose and McKinnon having shots on goal cleared.

The half came to a close with Foran and Anderson shots cleared off the home goal-line and a fine Hazel header which came back off the crossbar.

The second-half saw George Friel replace Hazel and this effectively changed the shape of the game. After enduring a brief sortie from the Diadora Leaguers, Slough went back on the attack with shots from both Sayer and Friel blocked by the defenders, while McKinnon headed just over from a fine Friel cross.

Midway through the second half Alan Pluckrose saw his free-kick leave the home keeper struggling as the high cross almost went In the top left hand corner before being touched away for a corner.

We continued to push forward and ware eventually rewarded with nine minutes left. Breaking from a rare home attack, McKinnon switched the ball to the right for Whitby who sped past defenders before crossing for the incoming Friel who tucked the ball
past he home 'keeper,