Harlow outplayed but one goal decides

The score-line was only one goal in Slough’s favour but they had all the play and were so superior that Harlow did not have a single shot which looked like producing a goal and while Slough forced 12 corners, their opponents could not manage one. Lavers was the Slough scorer and Wiseman, the Harlow goal-keeper, the hero of the match.

Wiseman is no stranger to Slough, as he was the keeper for Bishops Stortford in last seasons Amateur Cup Final, in this game some of his saves had to be seen to be believed, yet it was a mistake of his which gave Slough the all important goal and three points.

Another familiar face in the Harlow side was Kenny Gaine, a member of last season's successful Slough side, wearing the number ten shirt he was barely noticed amongst the in-effectual Harlow forwards except when he was lectured by the referee for showing dissent.

Slough had the edge on this game from the first whistle, in the opening minutes Lavers and Anthony went close, and Wiseman was brought into immediate action. A bad back-pass from a Harlow defender saw Lavers race through, but Wiseman bravely dived at his feet to thwart the attempt at goal. In the 19th Slough produced a fine move that ended with Dave Swain, deputising for the injured Brown, heading across geal for Anthony to shoot but the ball streaked past the wrong side of the upright.

In the 22nd minute the heavens opened but this could not put a damper on the energetic Slough side, who continued to bombard the Harlow goal. In the 32nd minute, a fine pass from Reardon found Anthony, who beat two men before pushing the ball out to Davies, but the resulting shot was deflected for Slough’s third corner.

The second half was only five minutes old when Slough got the all important goal, Anthony crossed the ball from the left, Wiseman failed to hold it and
Lavers was on hand to case the ball into the net.

Just on the hour only a great reflex save by Wiseman kept the score at 1-0, again it came from an Anthony cross, Swain outjumped the defence and Wiseman was in two minds thinking the ball was going wide but at the last minute dived full-length across the goal to finger the ball around for a corner.

The only sour note in the game came in the 70th minute when the rather easy-going referee, Mr Mardle, booked Harlow’s Reading for a foul on Crosby.

Slough’s pressure continued, but with Wiseman in such brilliant form, another goal just would not come. In the 74th a mix-up in the Harlow goalmouth saw three shots blocked before Anthony's shot beat Wiseman only to be cleared off the goal line.

Minutes later a fine long range effort from Turl was fingered over by Wiseman and the final minutes were all Slough as they continued to give Wiseman the opportunity to show just how good a goalkeeper he is.