SLOUGH Town regained the winning thread in the National League South after an incredible 5-3 win at Dorking Wanderers on Saturday, writes Rob Stevens.

The Rebels had not won in their three previous matches – two draws and a defeat – but a return to form sees them climb two places to second position in the table.

Slough made four changes from the side that lost narrowly at Havant & Waterlooville in midweek with Josh Jackman, George Wells, Warren Harris and Paul Hodges all returning to the starting line-up.

The quartet to miss out on a start were Max Worsfold, Sean Fraser, Mark Nisbet and Ben Harris.

The visitors to the Meadowbank Stadium had the first sight at goal as Hodges spotted Daniel Roberts in space but the striker could only scuff his shot wide inside the opening eight minutes.

READ MORE: Slough Town see their unbeaten run come to an end after a defeat at Havant & Waterlooville

Dorking broke the deadlock when a long ball forward found Jack Barham and he out-paced Ryan Bird before finding the bottom corner in the 12th minute.

Slough were behind for just four minutes however as the ball dropped for Roberts just inside the box and he waited for it to bounce before smashing a shot past keeper Slavomir Huk.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Slough Town midfielder scored his ninth goal of the season and first in six matches in the win at Dorking Wanderers.

The Rebels came close to getting themselves in front when Wells sent a shot just past the post from 20-yards, but Dorking were able to restore their advantage on 27 minutes.

Jimmy Muitt went through on goal and hit the post with his first effort, but the ball rebound back for him to hit home.

Both sides had chances to add to the score before half-time as the Wanderers saw two shots – one deflected – go just wide of the top corner before going close again with a free-kick that keeper Jack Turner was able to palm away.

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Slough midfielder Matthew Lench tried his luck from 25-yards, but it was at a nice height for Huk to make the save. The Dorking keeper then saved from Jackman and the rebound came back to the full-back whose second shot hit the post.

The Rebels levelled the scores four minutes into the second half as Roberts swung a leg at the ball just outside the box and it found the bottom corner.

The visitors were then reduced to 10-men when Hodges was adjudged to have pulled the shirt of a Dorking player and, being the last man, was shown a straight red card on 54 minutes.

The red card did not stop prevent Slough from taking the lead however as star man Roberts completed his hat-trick 10 minutes later. The striker rose above everyone in the box to head into the bottom corner.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Slough Town striker Ben Harris bagged his 12th goal of the season on Saturday.

It is his first hat-trick for the club and takes his tally for the season to 12 with five goals in as many matches.

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Dorking were behind for just seven minutes as a cross was delivered to the back post where substitute Jason Prior was on hand to finish and level the scores at 3-3.

The two sides then had one chance each to take the lead as Roberts did not get proper contact on the ball and his shot went wide before Prior almost got his second when Turner came out of his goal.

The Rebels edged ahead again when Warren Harris headed into the far corner past keeper Huk in the 78th minute. It is his ninth goal of the campaign and first in sixth matches.

The hosts came close to levelling the scores again as a great run from Muitt saw him cut in from the left, but his effort was wide of the post.

Slough secured all three points as substitute Ben Harris looped a header over Huk and into the corner of the goal with seven minutes remaining. It is his 12th goal of the season and first in sixth games.

READ MORE: The Pink and Blacks continue to improve after a win at Sevenoaks

The win means Slough are now six points behind leaders Wealdstone – who played out a goalless draw at Dartford last weekend – but the table toppers have two matches in hand.

The Rebels return to Arbour Park for an all-Berkshire derby match against rivals Hungerford Town this Saturday (3pm). Slough will be looking to gain some revenge for the 1-0 defeat suffered at Bulpit Lane in the first week of the season.