Alls Well That Ends Well

Slough Town gave their supporters some real shocks at the Stadium on Saturday when they were trailing a goal down 20 minutes from the end of their Amateur Cup tie with the "unknown" West Country team Cadbury Athletic. However, all was well in the end for a Day penalty and a superb goal from D'Arcy put the Town safely into the next round. Once again Slough were much the better team but could not get the ball into the net. The gate was 800.

The game will be remembered as one of the toughest seen at the Stadium for some time. What Cadbury Heath lacked in skill was made up in enthusiasm and sheer determination.

Slough were at full strength with Jamieson as the substitute. Slough started the game with such speed and superiority that Heath were almost reduced to spectators: two corners were gained in the first 85 seconds, a third came after three minutes and a fourth 25 seconds later from the last Mead headed over the bar.

With Slough completely in charge the crowd became frustrated at the failure of the Town forwards to take advantage and put the ball in the net. Cadbury Heath were being given a lesson in football and many of their players were so nervous that even the simple job of trapping a ball looked beyond them.

In the 13th a cross from Eaton was headed over by Gain and so the pressure continued. The visitors got their first shot in the 22nd minute but it had no power and Wolstenholme had no difficulty in saving. After Base had been booked in the 28th for a foul on Reardon, Slough had a number of chances that should have been converted; Day shot over from a quick D'Arcy free kick in the 31st, Gain had a header saved in the 33rd but still the goal would not come.

In the 38th the Slough supporters were silenced by a goal by the visitors. Completely against the run of the play the ball was dispatched along the right flank, Wolstenholme left his line and found himself stranded in the outside angle of the penalty area, the ball was played across the goalmouth, Reardon tried to head clear but could only deflect the ball for Leitch, the 6ft 3in striker, to outjump the Slough defence and head the ball into an empty net.

For a few minutes the initiative was with the visitors and Reardon had to race back and clean. up behind his defence in the 42nd with a second goal looking likely. Slough quickly regained their composure and Day finished the half with a curling shot that hit the bottom of the upright.

The second half was only three minutes old when Frith was booked for dangerous play. Slough were now in charge again and should have levelled the score in the 52nd when Anthony, standing a good eight yards offside, found the ball at his feet from a back-pass; in his haste he shot too soon and Witt made a fine save.

In the 62nd a Reid shot was turned away for a corner. Slough finally equalised through a penalty, Reardon put Day away on the right, he ran into the edge of the six-yard box on the touchline and hammered the ball just inside the post but it was handled away and Mr. Miller immediately awarded a penalty Day took his time fiddling with his laces and placing the ball before stroking the ball gently into the left hand corner of the net.

One-one and 20 minutes to go, Heath pulled off one of their midfield men and put a defender, Sims, in his place, but Slough threw everyone forward. Corners were gained in the 70th, 78th, 80th and 87th minutes and from the last Slough got the vital goal, Reardon played the ball back short to the oncoming D'Arcy who hammered home from 20 yards.

Cadbury Heath were finished and the final three minutes were A mere formality. with only Slough's 14th corner in the first minute of injury time to disturb the boredom.