Flackwell Heath sweep aside Slough Town to progress in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup

Abdul El Jalaoui. Photo credit: Glenn Alcock

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Flackwell Heath will be eagerly awaiting the fourth-round draw for the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup after they swept aside National League South side Slough Town 5-1 in the competition last night.

It was an exemplary performance from Chris Ayres' step five level Heathens against a side playing three levels above them in the non-league pyramid.

Having made good progress in the FA Cup and FA Trophy this season, the county cup is far from a priority for Scott Davies and the Rebels, but he still named a team strong enough to have given the Heathens a better game at Wilks Park.

Fresh from their 4-2 win over Edgeware & Kingsbury in the Combined Counties Premier Division North on Saturday, the home side tore into the Rebels from the first whistle, scoring twice inside the opening 10 minutes before extending that advantage before the interval.

Louis Bouwers sided-footed the hosts into a third minute lead before Jethro Odumosu rounded Dan Lincoln to slot home their second in the ninth minute. Slough struggled to keep hold of the ball in the opening half, gifting away possession on too many occasions, but they managed to switch on a little more as the half wore on.

With Mark Nisbet captaining the side against his former club, the Heathens managed to clear a succession of corners from the visitors, while David Ogbonna flashed an effort just over the bar in the 29th minute after beating a couple of Flackwell player.

Flackwell's third goal came at a good time for them with Abdul El Jalaoui firing home a beauty into the top corner in the 41st minute.

Mikel Platt missed a sitter on the stroke of half-time, firing over the bar from close range after a mix-up in the Heathens box, but the goal Slough needed to spark a response didn't materialise. Into the second half and Odumosu got his second of the evening with a clinical finish in the 57th minute.

Trailing 4-0, the Rebels did manage to rouse themselves for the final half hour, with Platt slotting home from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute and Flackwell keeper Jack Brooker saving well from QPR loanee Steve Bala in the 73rd. But the home side were able to bag their fifth of the evening in the 90th minute when Jamie Ayres curled the ball beyond substitute keeper Ryan North.

Afterwards, Rebels boss Davies said: “Huge credit to Flackwell Heath tonight. Miles better than us all over the park. No excuses. I thought we would have enough quality in the squad I picked to compete and make a good go of it but we were second best in every department. Sorry to those who came and watched that.”

Elsewhere in the competition, Isthmian League South Central title challengers Marlow required penalties to see off sixth tier Berks County.

The Combined Counties League 1 side held their own against their hosts to grind out a goalless draw and take the tie to penalties. However, they couldn't hold their nerve on the lottery of penalties with last season's finalists progressing to the fourth round following a 4-1 victory.

Afterwards, Marlow manager Mark Bartley posted: “Disappointing showing from us. In part because we were below par and in part because our opponents did a good job of frustrating us. This necessitated penalties to see off a side from two tiers below. Still cup football is about winning and we did that in the end.”

Most of the third-round ties have now taken place, with Burnham set to host Milton Keynes Irish at the 1878 Stadium this evening (November 29) and Winslow United to welcome Risborough Rangers on December 5.

Maidenhead United have also made it through to the fourth round after they beat Didcot Town 5-2 with a hat-trick from academy graduate Christian Johnson back on November 7.

Milton Keynes, Wycombe Wanderers and Reading have also been handed byes into the fourth round.