It was an unseasonably sunny and warm afternoon in Slough for the Terriers fifth match of the league season. The pre-match team talk had Neil Badley warning against complacency. Intensity from the off was needed as was being on our guard against carrying the ball into contact and/or dropping down to play at the opposition’s pace. We welcomed back Julian Chapman for the first time this season, and Alex Cook played his first game, just reward for his recent showing in training.

From the off Slough showed some good skills and passing on a freshly watered pitch. The Terriers absorbed the pressure though and began to counter, but were guilty of carrying the ball into contact, just what Neil had warned against. The defence showed the way, passing the ball round and with good ball retention the game began to swing the Terriers way. The first of several short corners was earned but Slough’s defence was quickly out to kill the move. The first reward came from a move of real class, when David Badger inside his own half threaded a lovely straight ball between Slough’s defence to Robbie Campion in a high position who turned and reaching the 23 yard line reverse passed the ball to Luke Barnard who dribbled the ball goalwards and then thumped it home.

Minutes later it was 2-0 with a fabulous run down the right by Luke again. Having found himself on the baseline he got his head up and elected to pass to Greg Bertellino who calmly slotted it home. Neil ran half the length of the pitch to warmly congratulate Luke for his unselfish decision. Before the half was over Luke bagged his second and the Terriers third and it was beginning to look easy.

The verdict at half time was that we had played well in possession but had got away with it a bit when we they had had the ball. Tony Heaver, Graeme Aldous and Neil had shown all their class to absorb everything that had come their way and the youngsters like Elliot Spencer and Bailey Kelly had stuck to their task, but the support had not always been there from players further up the field. Neil called on us to defend as a team and preserve the clean sheet.

The pattern of play was similar in the second half. Thomas Elwood and Julian were as busy as ever running the midfield and Alex started to settle into the game better and cause trouble down the left. It was another straight ball to a high forward the got the second half breakthrough. This time Greg was on the end of it his valiant effort was saved but Luke pounced on the rebound to slot the ball in for a well deserved hat-trick. Slough resorted to a lot of ariel balls and eventually earned a harsh short corner. Apparently a somewhat bored Tom Nance was pleased that at last there might be something to do but nothing came of it.

At the other end it was the Terriers who finally converted one when stick stopper Graeme retrieved a wayward injection took into the D and crashed it into the corner. I’ve seen this happen so many times over the years - it’s our most successful short corner - the one that goes wrong. The last 10 minutes were fairly forgettable as the standard of play dropped and the shape and passing play that had earns the five goal advantage was forgotten. Neil made this point in the post match team talk but a 5-0 win is a 5-0 win and worthy of that glass of red wine in front of Strictly.