Another brace for hot-shot Rees as Slane hit the quarters

He netted a brace to stretch his scoring run to eight goals in his last four competitive outings.

Rees was full of confidence before the trip to Lurgan, fresh from scoring four in the 11-1 win over Oxford Sunnyside the week before.

And he underlined his quality with another staring role in the first of a double-header against Town.

Slane got off to a bright start with Gregg Harrison getting behind the home defence and Rees causing problems down the left.

And it was the away team that carved out the meaningful openings in the first 20 minutes. Their pressure paid off when on 25 minutes Johnny Kernaghan burst down the left and his cross was met superbly by Rees, who found the bottom corner from 15 yards.

Chances to extend the lead were squandered when Harrison elected to shoot from a narrow angle with players better placed and Kernaghan saw two strikes just miss the target.

Right on half time, slack defending allowed a Lurgan Town defender to run unchallenged to the edge of the box and he drove the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-1 at the break.

Slane had a wonderful opportunity to go back in front when skipper Gareth Bingham played in Gregg Harrison but with only the keeper to beat, he fired tamely wide from 10 yards out.

Soon after though, Rees was put through and he coolly chipped the keeper to put Slane back in front.

The weather then deteriorated, making it difficult for both teams. Ryan Silliday came on for the skipper and soon after, Adam Stewart for Gareth Rees.

On 75, the away team had another chance to extend their lead when Harrison was brought down but Stevie Coulter put the ball wide from the penalty spot.

That made it a nervy finish but Slane held out to make sure they are in the hat.