Lost Chances Bring Town Shock Defeat

Wasted chances was the key to this shock defeat of Slough at Erith and Belvedere on Saturday, when two valuable league points were surrendered.

Slough missed a penalty to cap their list of thrown away opportunities, Roger Day was back in the line-up, but D'Arcy pulled out and took the substitute's jersey and Jamieson was up front, while Reid was in the back four.

Slough were so much on top that Wolstenholme had very little to do, the home side, under constant pressure were reduced to the occasional breakaway, but despite the obvious danger of these sorties Slough still allowed too many defenders to join in the attack and this was their downfall.

The early minutes were all Slough, pressing forward, allowing the home side little room, Tottman shot over within 30 seconds, Jamieson was just wide of the target in the 3rd minute and Jamieson again in the 10th should have scored when Mead and Tottman combined to put him clear but with only the keeper to beat he sliced the ball wide. In the 15th, Chatterton laid on a chance for Day but the Slough skipper shot over.

In the 22nd minute Erith had their first shot at goal but Etherington was so far off target that Eaton had no trouble in clearing. In the 26th Giggle hit what looked like a perfectly good goal but it was given offside. Slough were well on top but as on so many occasions that one side was clearly superior the defence became stretched and in the 33rd Whitehead raced through a flat-footed Slough defence and curled the ball across the goalmouth clear of Wolstenholme and into the goal. One up against the run of play and Erith began to put a few moves together and had the better of the exchanges up to half-time.

Within four minutes of the restart Jamieson was brought down in the Erith penalty area; Mr. Marshall had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and to the Slough supporters' surprise it was O'Sullivan and not Day who stepped forward to take the kick. O'Sullivan placed the ball low inside the left corner of the goal but a superb dive by Everett fingered the ball away for a corner.

Slough continued to press but the goal would not come and the few chances that did, saw Everett make some really fine saves; the home side gave the Slough goal little trouble as the rearguard ably marshalled by Mead soaked up whatever Erith could throw their way but in the 75th a defensive mistake let Erith in for their second goal, O'Sullivan turned to pass back, pushed the ball wide of the goal, obviously not seeing the lurking Etherington, who easily beat Wolstenholme to the ball and thankfully tucked it into the back of the net.

After this Slough rarely looked like scoring and Erith were more than content with the result.