Chatterton puts Rebels through

History was made on the Watford FC ground at 4.47 on Saturday afternoon when a great roar went round the ground announcing that for the first time in their 83 years' history Slough Town had reached the final of the Amateur Cup with a 1-0 win over Bishop's Stortford.

The goal which took Town into the final was scored by Micky Chatterton after 20 minutes. The first half was all Slough but the second 45 minutes saw the Bishops apply sustained pressure and only Wolstenholme stood between them and an equalising goal. The official attendance was 7,704.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Slough were among the spectators. Slough kicked off and immediately stormed forward, gaining corners in the first and third minutes.

In the fourth a good cross from Reid was headed just wide by Chatterton, and it was not until one minute later that the Bishops made their first attack and, this was easily dealt with by the Slough defence.

Slough were in complete control even before the first minute had elapsed and Stortford looked anything but a side vying for a place in the Amateur Cup Final under the sustained pressure the Bishops defence began to make panicky clearances and in the 20th minute came the all-important goal.

Reardon hammered a fine shot against the massed defence in front of the goal, the rebound running to Gaine who pushed the ball back to Chatterton who wellied it straight into the back of the net.

In the 27th a Slough free kick was cleared away but within seconds a long-range effort from Day brought a magnificent diving save from keeper Wismas. Stortford at this stage began to look a bit better but they had no answer to the magnificence of Tas Reid, helping in midfield and racing through on the flank to assist his forwards.

In the 36th Slough had another easy chance when An Bey, who had spent most of the half being obstructed, managed to get the ball into the six-yard area with clever overhead kick. The ball dropped at the feet of Kenny Gaine, who was so surprised at its arrival, that he could only punt the ball straight into the keeper's arms. The final minute of the half saw Stortford's real shot from Dear sail harmlessly over the crossbar.

The second half was a complete reversal of the first Slough's almost completely collapsed, Day having had a third painkilling injection at half-time being unable to maintain his midfield superiority, O'Sullivan, who was also doubtful before the start, began to feel the effect of his injury and Rearden who had had such a good first half but could not cover enough ground, thereby allowing Stortford the midfield space that had been denied them in the first half.

The Bishops gained their first corner in the 45th minute and this was the signal for continued pressure on the Slough goal, but Mead and D'Arcy remained their usual ice-cool selves and Stortford just could not get through. Slough were now reduced to the occasional breakaway and O'Sullivan went close from one of these in the 67th but the Bishops were not allowing much of this and they could well have boon on level terms in the 73rd when Bunker fired a ball hard and low across the Slough goal, only for Day to step calmly over the ball completely confusing the Bishops forwards as the ball ran out of touch on the far side.

Four minutes later Francis, with a clear view at the Slough goal, hammered the ball against the upright and it bounced away to be cleared upfield by Caine. Two minutes later Lawrence raced through but Wolstenholme was quick off his line to block the shot and Red waited calmly on the goal-line to head away the rebound.

The final 10 minutes belonged to Stortford and Ian Wolstenholme. In the 81st the ball ran loose to Davenport on the edge of the Slough area, almost a repeat of the situation from which he got the all-important goal against Dagenham. His volley looked a goal all the way but Wolstenholme made a cat-like dive to his right and turned the ball away for a corner.

Two corners in quick succession were cleared away but the ball came straight back into the Slough goalmouth and with the final minutes ticking away Slough had everyone back in defence. But in the 90th minute Mitchell fired in a terrific shot only to see Wolstenholme pull off yet another magnificent save, touching the ball over fer Stortford's eighth corner.

Two minutes and five seconds of injury time - to Slough supporters it seemed like two hours - passed before Mr. Thacker blew for time and Slough were through to their first ever Amateur Cup final.

Perhaps the finest gesture of the day was made by Tommy Lawrence who stood at the tunnel shaking hands with the Bishops Stortford players as they left the field.