Town Maintain B&B Cup Supremacy

Slough moved into their third Berks and Bucks Senior Cup semi-final in as many years when they easily disposed of Aylesbury United at the Stadium.

Holders of the trophy for the past two years, Slough have not been defeated in this competition since September, 1969, and if they can show the sort of superiority they displayed on Saturday in the semi-final and final, they should run up a record of hat-trick successes.

The 3-1 score-line in no way reflects the ease with which Slough crushed Aylesbury, but many chances were missed and the United defence enjoyed more than their full measure of luck. The Slough scorers were Chatterton, Anthony and O'Sullivan.

Due to injury, D'Arcy was missing from the Slough line-up, and Terry Reardon took over the centre-back position while young Martin Swadling kept his place in midfield and gave another encouraging performance. For the nostalgic Slough supporters the return of Bernie Gogan, this time wearing the Aylesbury No 9 shirt brought back many memories.

The game was only two minutes old when Slough swept into the lead: a free kick awarded five yards outside the Aylesbury penalty area was touched on by Day and Chatterton hammered the ball home through a wall of defenders.

Three minutes later, from Slough's first corner, Day had the ball in the net, but linesman, Mr. H. V. Croxford, signalled an infringement.

Four minutes later a long, swerving free-kick from Reardon sailed over the Aylesbury defence beyond the goalkeeper's clutching hands and into the back of the net, but Mr. Croxford signalled another infringement to the amazement of everybody on the park.

In fact, Mr. Croxford signalled an infringement at every one of Slough's seven corners in the first hall and awarded throw in decisions that bemused the players and caused the spectators quite a bit of amazement.

However, it was not long before Slough increased their lead: a long pass across the area pushed on by Swadling to O'Sullivan and back for Anthony to slam home.

Slough were completely in charge at this stage, forcing the visitors back into their own area. Corners were gained in the 29th and 38th minutes and in the 43rd minute an O'Sullivan shot was tipped over for yet another corner.

In the final minute of the half a fine chip pass from Swadling put Anthony clear but his shot was tipped over for yet another corner.

Slough continued to press in the second half, although ex-Slough player McBride began to give the Slough defence a lot of trouble with his fast breakthroughs. However, in the 33rd minute, from Slough's tenth corner, the ball was cleared out to Reid, who lobbed it back just over the bar.

In the 55th, Aylesbury had their first smell of success when Waller had the ball in the net, but he was judged offside.

After O'Sullivan had hammered the ball over from a yard out in the 56th minute, Slough had three corners in 60 seconds, but each was cleared and it was not until the 70th minute that Slough completed their scoring when Aylesbury's centre-half, Baigent, miskicked, putting O'Sullivan away well clear of the defenders, who were frantically appealing for offside. Goalkeeper Hughes raced off his line but could only watch the ball stroked past him and into the net.

In the 74th the arrears were reduced when Gogan was fouled in the area and Peel converted the penalty.

In the minute that followed Slough had two corners and three shots blocked on the Aylesbury goal-line and when the ban was eventually cleared McBride raced away and brought a fine save from Wolstenholme, but this was to be Aylesbury's last real effort, and Slough finished the course at a canter.