Trophy holders toppled as Rebels produce their best

Slough Town

Slough Town

3
James (66, 70), O'Sullivan (77)
Dagenham

Dagenham

1
Ballard (5)
Isthmian Lge Cup Pat Morrissey
SLOUGH TOWN stormed through to the last 16 of the Hitachi Cup when they produced a devastating performance against arch rivals Dagenham on Tuesday night.

They blitzed the FA Trophy holders with three goals in eight minutes during the second half just when it looked as if Dagenham were going to hold on to their slender lead. Tricky winger Chris Ballard had put them ahead after just five minutes when he darted through a sleeping defence to fire past Richard Teale after Ricky Kidd had headed across the face of the goal.

Slough, with Pat Morrissey again their outstanding player, battled forward in search of an equaliser but they were denied time and again by goalkeeper Ian Huttley. Huttley, at 38 one of the oldest goalkeepers in the Isthmian League, showed that age has not slowed his reflexes as he frustrated Slough for more than an hour of this exciting cup-tie.

Twice he saved brilliantly from Morrissey and then stopped a Mick Kiely volley before half-time. Then, after the interval, he continued his top class show by turning away long range efforts from Dave Russell and Eggie James.

Slough, who had Vic Akers booked for handball, had reason to believe that it was not their night when they were denied a penalty in the 64th minute. Keith Elley brought down Micky O'Sullivan inside the area but the referee only awarded an indirect free kick. But, full credit to the Rebels, they kept their composure and soon afterwards James left-footed home the equaliser after Russell had turned inside one defender and pulled the ball back from the byline.

The cheers had hardly died down when James headed in a second goal at the far post in the 70th minute when Barrie Friend and Kiely cut through on the left. The same combination opened up Dagenham again and this time James headed down for O'Sullivan to score the third.

The East Londoners brought on substitute Chris Maycock, the striker who scored their winning goal at Wembley in May, for the last ten minutes but never looked likely of producing a repeat of the opening league match when they pulled back the same deficit to earn a draw.

Instead Morrissey almost capped a superb night for Slough when he exchanged passes with Kiely only to be again thwarted by Huttley.

Dagenham Lineup

Rebels

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