There was a fair attendance at the Dolphin Ground on Saturday to witness these teams fight out the preliminary round of the English Cup. It was an ideal day, there being an entire absence of wind.

Slough won the toss and defended the road end goal. After some preliminary play Paice forced a corner, which was got away. Then Staines came and Gibbons had an opening but shot wide. Just after Wilmot headed on to Mays who put in a beauty which Werrell saved splendidly.

A moment later he saved again from Gibbons. Good forward play brought Slough down and Luke shot by. Keeping up the attack Skinner gave Luke a nice centre and the latter shot straight, but Higgs intervened.

The homesters kept up the attack by dint of well-judged passing, and another fine centre came from Skinner, but Denton was given offside. Slough continued to have the best of matters the forwards playing excellently together, and Denton was applauded for a spanking shot which just skimmed the crossbar. The game was temporarily suspended owing to Young hurting his neck in heading a ball.

Simmons was pulled up for a foul, and shortly after Skinner was roughly brought down when getting away, but the consequent kick was not taken advantage of. Then Staines got going but were quickly repelled.

When play had been in progress eighteen minutes, Slough opened their scoring with a penalty. Denton sent across to Luke, who was fouled by Hedsor in the area. Simmons took the kick and sent the leather into the net amidst applause, Luke had to leave the field for a few minutes, but shortly returned, as also did Young.

Staines then attacked strongly until Bavin kicked hard by. Again the visitors came and when pressed Steptoe gave a corner. This was capitally placed, and Werrell had to save twice in quick succession.

For a time Staines more than held their own and Werrell had to deal with a warm handful from the foot of Gibbons, who was very energetic on the right wing. Cooper tried a long shot for the visitors, but it went flying over the crossbar. Thirty three minutes from the start Slough had a bit of hard luck when Simmons received a pass from Denton and banged in a lovely goal only to be pulled up for offside.

Blaine had a clear opening but shot weakly. Towards the end of the first half Staines made a big effort to equalise, and Werrell stopped a hot one from Mayo. At the opposite end the goalkeeper gave a corner in dealing with a shot from Pearce. From this Skinner headed in smartly, but again Higgs saved well. At half time the score was Slough 1, Staines 0.

Slough opened Ihe second venture in a business manner. From a run by Denton, Simmons got in a good shot which Higgs saved, but Luke caught the rebound and drove it hard between the post.

An exciting melee look place in front of the Slough goal when Page got in his shot. Werrell fell in clearing but with two or three opponents on him held on to the ball until the referee slopped play.

Staines continued to press, and a lengthy pass by Watt, was headed by. The Slough forwards got going and Luke forced a corner. Following this Hedson handled close to the penalty area but the referee gave a free kick only. This was taken by Simmons who drove hard at the goalkeeper. The latter in clearing sent out to Paice, who kicked the leather in to the net.

With three goals to the good and half an hour to go, the homesters were on velvet. Staines worked hard to get a goal and Watts put in some centres. Luke, who had not been able to make much headway against Cooper, then made an opening, but before Paice could reach it Brian sent the leather flying over the bar for a corner and this was sent behind.

Twenty five minutes after the cross over, Paice was responsible for a good run, and beating the back sent the ball inwards. Luke came bounding along and scored a fine goal.

Two minutes later Luke put in one of the best efforts of the day. Getting possession in midfield he dashed straight up the centre and finished a splendid effort by steering the leather past Higgs, making the record 5-0 in favour of Slough.

After this Luke retired, having to get away to catch a train. Subsequently Staines worked hard, but with indifferent shooting and Werrell in tip top form they could not score. Once he brought off a magnificent save from Bavin, turning the leather round the post for a corner, which proved abortive.

In the last ten minutes the visitors had it very much their own way and Werrell was kept quite busy but he was as safe as a rock. Then when the game seemed over, Paice broke away on his own and although worried from behind by Young, he kept the ball in front of him and landed it in the net.