Slough Town
1
Lane (88)
Staines Town
1
Higgs (13)
League
Slough, showing signs of a hangover from their recent Amateur Cup exit, combined with Staines to produce an afternoon’s nondescript football. The game lacked excitement as well as any good football, and the long-awaited appearance of Kemp and Williams in the Town line-up was another disappointment. Staines were unlucky not to take the full points as they led for much of the game — indeed, only two minutes remained for play when Lane put Slough on terms.
The game was refereed by John Holmwood, one of the finest referees in the country, and his handling was superb. That he had to book two players was unfortunate, but Slough centre-back went into the book in the 40th minute for deliberate hand-ball, the first booking of Cannon’s career, and Higgs, the Staines goalscorer, was booked in the 90th minute — a booking that removes any interest Staines may have had in the Rothmans Isthmian League end-of-season award for sporting play.
Slough started well, gaining a corner in the third minute after Williams and Turl had combined to pressurise the Staines goal, and it looked as though Slough were going to crush the hesitant Staines team. But in the 13th minute, against the run of play, Staines went in front, Lay making a good run down the left and crossing for Higgs, making his debut for Staines, to hit home a well placed goal.
Slough were not dispirited and kept coming forward, but they could not break through a very resolute Staines defence. In the 22nd minute a long range effort from Williams brought a fine save from Staines ‘keeper Yates and two minutes later Crosby tried a 25-yarder which Yates just fingered over for a corner.
At this stage Slough were well on top, but it was Staines who almost increased their lead in the 32nd when they gained their fourth corner and Suters’ header was cleared off the goal-line by O'Sullivan with Spittle well beaten. In the 40th with the Slough defence at full stretch, a fine through ball looked to have Slough in trouble, but Cannon deliberately handled and for his trouble received the first booking of his career.
The second half produced something of a mystery. Whatever happened to the Staines attack? Almost the whole side went on the defensive, hoping to preserve their one-goal lead, and Slough built attack after attack, and in the 67th the hard-working Crosby was replaced by Lane and Slough increased their pressure.
In the 88th came the equaliser. Slough’s 13th corner proved unlucky for Staines — Williams curled the ball over, Cannon flicked on and Lane headed home to make it 1-1. The final minute had its little bit of excitement when Staines built an attack and Suter was dispossessed on the edge of the Slough box, a tackle that Higgs thought should have produced a penalty. His protest earned him a booking.
The game was refereed by John Holmwood, one of the finest referees in the country, and his handling was superb. That he had to book two players was unfortunate, but Slough centre-back went into the book in the 40th minute for deliberate hand-ball, the first booking of Cannon’s career, and Higgs, the Staines goalscorer, was booked in the 90th minute — a booking that removes any interest Staines may have had in the Rothmans Isthmian League end-of-season award for sporting play.
Slough started well, gaining a corner in the third minute after Williams and Turl had combined to pressurise the Staines goal, and it looked as though Slough were going to crush the hesitant Staines team. But in the 13th minute, against the run of play, Staines went in front, Lay making a good run down the left and crossing for Higgs, making his debut for Staines, to hit home a well placed goal.
Slough were not dispirited and kept coming forward, but they could not break through a very resolute Staines defence. In the 22nd minute a long range effort from Williams brought a fine save from Staines ‘keeper Yates and two minutes later Crosby tried a 25-yarder which Yates just fingered over for a corner.
At this stage Slough were well on top, but it was Staines who almost increased their lead in the 32nd when they gained their fourth corner and Suters’ header was cleared off the goal-line by O'Sullivan with Spittle well beaten. In the 40th with the Slough defence at full stretch, a fine through ball looked to have Slough in trouble, but Cannon deliberately handled and for his trouble received the first booking of his career.
The second half produced something of a mystery. Whatever happened to the Staines attack? Almost the whole side went on the defensive, hoping to preserve their one-goal lead, and Slough built attack after attack, and in the 67th the hard-working Crosby was replaced by Lane and Slough increased their pressure.
In the 88th came the equaliser. Slough’s 13th corner proved unlucky for Staines — Williams curled the ball over, Cannon flicked on and Lane headed home to make it 1-1. The final minute had its little bit of excitement when Staines built an attack and Suter was dispossessed on the edge of the Slough box, a tackle that Higgs thought should have produced a penalty. His protest earned him a booking.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Peter Spittle
- 2 Tim Turl
- 3 Brendan O'Sullivan
- 4 Trevor Williams
- 5 Micky Cannon
- 6 Terry Watts
- 7 Steve Crosby
- 8 Alan Davies
- 9 Dave Kemp
- 10 Terry Brown
- 11 Geoff Anthony
Substitutes
- 12 Steve Lane