NEIL Baker has confirmed that he wants to win the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup this season after Slough Town reached the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

The Rebels beat Hellenic Premier Division club Wantage Town 5-0 in a second round tie at Arbour Park and will now travel to Bracknell Town to compete for a spot in the last four.

Baker and fellow Slough boss Jon Underwood represented Bracknell in their playing careers and The Robins employ several ex-Rebels from their promotion-winning season in 2014 adding extra spice to their meeting in the New Year.

Baker told the Observer: “Bracknell is now a very different club to when I was there, but we will get to play against a good side and on a 3G pitch as well.

“We have a friendship with a few of their players who were a big part of our promotion with Slough. They served us well and I know their manager very well too.

“Bracknell are getting good attendances so there will be a decent crowd there and some local interest as well.”

He added: “The competition was probably fourth or fifth on our list of importance at the start of the season - the League Cup is the least important.

“We’ve had a good run in all the cups and this is the last one we’re in so we want to win the competition now. Two good wins will get you into a final which will probably be played at the end of the season.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Slough left-back George Wells strikes to make it 2-0 in the second round tie.

“We will keep on winning games and doing what we need to do, but it’s a competition we now want to win.”

Slough led 3-0 at the break in midweek thanks to a Simon Dunn penalty plus goals from George Wells and Lee Togwell.

A goal from Brad Wadkins and a second strike by Dunn made it a comfortable night for The Rebels, but Baker has criticised his side for not being clinical enough.

He explained: “I’m pleased that the players put in a professional performance. We had to work hard but caused them problems from the first minute.

“It should have been more, nine or 10 to be fair, and that was my one criticism. We were not ruthless enough in front of goal.

“I’m slightly disappointed about that but we spoke about it in the changing room afterwards. We need to meet our standards which is to keep on scoring goals.

“I’m happy with the result because it means we can put everything else behind us now and get back on a winning run.”

Slough return to action in the Southern Premier Division with visits to Arbour Park from Stratford Town this Saturday (3pm) and then Farnborough on Boxing Day (3pm).

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Two Slough supporters watch the action at Arbour Park in midweek.

Baker is expecting two tough matches but, with Hereford unbeaten in their last six league games and with the two promotion rivals set to clash on Saturday, January 6, he knows The Rebels cannot afford to drop points.

He said: “We’ve told our players about the form Stratford are in but we will set ourselves up to win the match.

“Farnborough are a bit hit and miss, they’ve beaten Kings Lynn but lost to Gosport and Dorchester, but again there is a link between the two clubs.

“They’re two home games and, if we can get six points and something from Chesham, that will set us up nicely for Hereford in the New Year.

"Hereford are absolutely flying at the moment and don’t look like dropping points, so we can’t either.”

Check out the Observer sports Facebook page. Search: Robert Observer Sport and like, follow and share today.