Night To Remember At The Dolphin

Slough Town have done it with this 1-0 victory over the old enemy, Walton and Hersham, the holders of the Premier Mid-week Floodlight League trophy. They won their fourth cup of the season. What a glorious record, five major competitions entered and only the Amateur Cup not won. Slough proved that for consistency they are the best amateur team in the country and Tommy Lawrence emphasised that he is the supremo among amateur club managers.

Slough's achievement is exceptional in any circumstances but when one considers that three cup finals have been won since strikers Cruse and Ritchie joined Arsenal, leaving Slough with a very depleted squad and one that has had more than its fair share of injuries the achievement is all the more a wonder.

Walton, having finished third in the Isthmian League after their first season were looked upon as Slough's hardest final competitors and so they turned out to be. Ex-Slough players Roger Connell and Dave Morris gave more than their fair share of effort but Connell could do little against the watertight centre defence of Mead and D'Arcy.

As it was, defences were supreme all evening and it was Slough's defensive midfield man Ian Reid, so recently converted from the full back position who got the only goal of the game. With both sides adopting a defensive 4-4-2 formation this was not a game to really thrill the fans.

Hard tackling from both sides at times almost got out of hand and referee Reeves had more than enough to do in keeping tempers cool.

The game started with Tommy Lawrence making one change from his expected line-up. Lawrie Churchill came in for Dave Yerby with Stewart Jamieson as substitute. Once the teams had settled the play became very negative with midfield the centre of the play and neither side finding any real way through the other's defence.

Both goalkeepers had a quiet time and it looked very much like no score for half-time but suddenly Slough were in front. A cross from D'Arcy was headed on by Amos to Reardon who in turn headed to Reid to volley into the back of the net.

There was not time to kick-off before the half-time whistle went. The second period followed the same pattern as the first although Walton did seem to be getting on top especially when Morris raided down the right flank often catching Ray Eaton stranded up field. The two best moves of the half came from Slough.

The first ended in Day powering a shot from five yards into the arms of "keeper Teale who could have had no chance of seeing the ball and the second in the 82nd minute when Reardon, who had spent most of the second half in isolation on the right wing, put Amos away with a very clever pass, but Slough's leading scorer shot wide.

Churchill having been replaced by Jamieson seemed to bring more life into the Slough attack but Walton maintained their pressure and looked the most likely of the two sides to score, but Slough held out and the final whistle brought an invasion of the pitch and saw goal scorer Ian Reid chaired from the pitch.