Slough Win Seven Goal Thriller

There can be few matches that have provided as much excitement as Tuesday's night's local derby between Slough Town and Wycombe Wanderers. This game had everything. Seven goals, two penalties, non-stop action for 90 minutes and Tony Horseman scoring his 500th goal for the club into the bargain.

There will, no doubt, be inquests in the Wycombe camp over how they could have thrown away a 3-1 lead but the true entertainment the two teams provided will long be remembered.

The slippery surface was responsible for the number of goals but both sides went into this game with a vengeance.

In the end, most people would have settled for a draw but Slough's superb come-back from 1-3 down was bordering on the incredible. The fourth goal, scored with only two minutes left, earned them the double over the Blues, having beaten them 1-0 at Loakes Park in the second match of the season. It is a mighty long time since anyone pulled off a double over the champions.

Wycombe’s main mistake on Tuesday was relaxing once they were ahead. They let their workrate slip momentarily and the Rebels were quick to capitalise. Even so, the Blues had enough chances to have won and if every scoring opportunity had been converted the final scoreline would have been something like 8-6 to Wanderers.

Wycombe had no less than six former Slough players in their side and for one of them, it was a nightmare return. Blues skipper John Delaney, and ex-Rebels skipper, could hardly put a foot right, scoring an own goal and giving away a penalty. This was one game Delaney will be pleased to forget.

Despite twice going close in the first quarter. Wanderers found themselves a goal down. after 15 minutes. Earlier, Dylan Evans saw a header pushed onto the crossbar by Paul Barron and then Geoff Anthony drove a shot against the 'keeper's legs after a fine run by Evans.

Slough's first goal came when Roy Davies, who had an outstanding match, beat Mick Holifield on the wing and crossed low and hard into the box. Delaney, presumably trying to put the ball away for a corner, succeeded only in prodding it past John Maskell.

It was the sort of goal Slough had been threatening. Previously they had sent in two or three long shots across the greasy surface and Terry Brown brought a good save from Maskell with one particular 20 yard effort.

Wycombe fought back well after the early set back and equalised in the 29th minute. Ray Eaton sent a free kick down the wing and while the home defence waited for the ball to go over the bye-line, Evans nipped in and crossed to Anthony. He took his shot first time and swept the ball home.

Both sides continued to play at a remarkable pace, the ball going from one end to the other. at real speed. This kept both defences constantly under pressure and neither side was able to settle throughout the 90 minutes.

Towards the end of the half, it was Wycombe who began to hold the whip hand. Slough's defence was looking increasingly suspect when under pressure and the pace of the front runners, Evans in particular, often worried them.

In the 42nd minute the Blues took a deserved lead. Holifield broke through from midfield and was about to shoot when Evans nipped in and took the ball off his toes.

Showing real confidence, Dylan then switched the ball onto his left. foot and drove a firm shot past Barron with the defence slow to cover the danger and giving Evans room for the drive.

Although Slough opened the second half with three quick corners, it was Wanderers who scored again with 54 minutes gone - a goal that was probably their undoing. It came from a long ball downfield which John Bever headed into Anthony's path. He took the ball wide and crossed into the box where Tim Smith was adjudged to have handled.

Referee Smith awarded the penalty after checking with his linesman and Horseman stepped up to take his tally of goals to a remarkable 500. 'Bodger' drove the spot kick home with, as always, the minimum amount of fuss.

His record at Wycombe is unique and is unlikely to be matched again - 500 goals in 15 seasons. with the club. Now 3-1 up. it seemed Wycombe were carrying on where they left off against Enfield last Saturday. They were now in the driving seat and their greater cohesion and team work marked them as the superior side.

But within eight minutes of that penalty, Slough hauled themselves off the floor and hit back with a neatly taken goal. Roy Davies took a corner on the left and Terry Brown back headed home at the near post with the visitors' defence exposed.

Three minutes later, it was 3-3 with Wanderers hardly knowing what had hit them. Once again it was Roy Davies who caused all the trouble. He chased a through ball and pushed it inside a defender. It seemed the ball was over the bye-line but Davies sprinted on, took the ball along the line towards the goal and then slid over the cross. Delaney, spotting the danger, launched himself into a tackle but left an arm trailing as he did so. The referee was right on the spot and had not a moment's hesitation in awarding the penalty which Dennis Malley drove firmly past. Maskell.

So within the space of three minutes, Wycombe had seen. their 3-1 lead ripped away from them. With the home fans going wild with delight, the Rebels pressed forward and succeeded in throwing Wanderers completely out of their stride. The Blues did well to keep their cool and find themselves breathing space.

In the next 10 minutes, they had two chances to score which would surely have secured them a victory. Both were wasted. The first came in the 78th minute. Tommy James, who I came on for Anthony, was put clear by Horseman and took the ball to the line. Spotting Evans unmarked at the far post he crossed accurately but Dylan took too long over the shot and placed it just past the upright.

Slough’s defence, which had always looked suspect in the middle where they were nearly caught in possession a number of times, dallied too long once again in the 82nd minute. Beyer tried to pass back to his 'keeper but Evans robbed him and had a clear run towards goal. But he stumbled over the ball and had to hurry his shot which lobbed over Barron, but also over the crossbar. It was to prove their last chance.

Slough then took over for a and their last assault produced a final fling at their local rivals the winning goal. Barrie Davies took a free kick on the right. The ball was only half cleared to Terry Brown who cracked in a fierce left foot volley. Maskell did really well to parry the shot but it fell right into the path of Tim Turl and he joyously drove the ball into the roof of the net.

There were only a couple of minutes left for Wycombe to snatch the game out of the fire but Slough by now were over the moon.

The Davies brothers rubbed salt into Wanderers' wounds by doing their versions of the 'Ali shuffle before the final whistle brought this epic derby to a close.