George Alexander hits first half hat-trick as Slough Town finally get the rub of the green

George Alexander. Photo: George Beck

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Weston-super-Mare 0, Slough Town 3

George Alexander netted a first half hat-trick as Slough Town finally got the rub of the green to record their first league win of the season.

Scott Davies’ men were languishing in the relegation zone without a win to their name following defeats in each of their first three matches.

There were mitigating circumstances for each of those losses, but the general feeling was the Rebels hadn’t had a lot of luck in the first weeks of the season.

On Saturday they were buoyed by the return of centre half Temi Eweka on a permanent deal from near neighbours Maidenhead United and he looked as if he’d never been away as he marshalled a resilient rearguard display.

Up front, they also had the lively Alexander who has returned on loan from Bromley until January having impressed in a Rebels’ shirt at the back end of last season.

He was certainly impressive at the Woodspring Stadium where Weston were dealt their first defeat of the campaign.

It wasn’t long before Alexander made his mark, just getting his toe to the ball to prod home Davies’ cross in the fourth minute. Lloyd Humphries then deflected the ball into his own net, but the goal was credited as Alexander’s.

The Rebels forged further ahead in the 22nd minute when Alexander lifted the ball over goalkeeper Harry Lee to make it 2-0. Again, Davies was the provider, playing the ball through for the forward to fire home.

The tide then well and truly turned in Slough’s favour shortly before the interval when Nathan Minhas was felled in the area by Sam Avery and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. As the last man Avery was also dismissed and when Alexander stepped up to confidently sweep home the penalty, the visitors had a comfortable 3-0 lead to hold onto against 10 men in the second half.

Alexander might have had a fourth before the break – just as he did in the 6-1 win over Chippenham last season – however, on this occasion he fired straight at Lee and Weston were spared further punishment before the break.

Chances were at a premium in the second half, with the Rebels content to sit on their lead against their understrength hosts. With Eweka looking rock-solid at the back alongside the returning Bayliss, the Rebels never really looked like conceding. The best that Weston could muster was a drive from Dayle Grubb that flashed wide of the post. While Alexander volleyed over at the other end from Johnny Goddard’s cross.

Slough Saturda后留在降级区y’s result, but crucially, they have their first three points on the board and will be looking forward to this weekend’s home game against recently relegated Torquay United (Saturday, 3pm kick-off). They’re then set to visit another of the National League South’s mid-table sides in Chippenham Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

Weston drop down to third in the table after Aveley registered a third win of the campaign to jump above them. They are though still level on points with leaders Worthing after four matches.