Two Goal Lead Wiped Out

A performance of gritty determination enabled Slough Town to hold the star studded Hendon team to a draw at Claremont Road, on Saturday. Slough achieved the distinction of being the first side to score twice at Hendon this season, both goals coming very early in the game.

It took Hendon a long time to get over these shocks. Conditions were very difficult and Slough had the strong bitterly cold wind behind them in the first half.

Slough had a large following of supporters including three coach loads and they were well satisfied with a draw.

It soon became clear that the wind would be the overriding factor, consequently the visitors were able to put their game together with a certain amount of confidence as Hendon struggled to keep the ball out of their half.

It came as something of a surprise that Hendon came the closest to scoring and in the 18th minute three shots were charged down in quick succession before Barron was able to clear his lines from the subsequent corner.

Despite being on top the only danger to Hendon in the early stages was a centre from Pattison that just cleared the crossbar but then in the 28th minute Steve Hill who had an excellent match scored with Slough's first on target shot.

Pattison slipped the ball onto the right wing where Roy Davies collected the ball and put Hill through with the neatest of passes from which he forced the ball between the keeper and the post.

Six minutes later Hill returned the compliment with a fine crossfield pass that saw Roy Davies advance quickly and drive the ball past the diving Dalrymple.

Half-time arrived with Slough leading 2-0, and many Slough supporters were feeling that under the conditions the "Rebels" would have needed three goals to be sure of progressing into the third round, and it came as no surprise when Hendon began to settle and look dangerous.

Slough’s progress into the Hendon half became less and less and with only one full defender in front of him Paul Barron was left with little cover as the ball hovered around the bar from numerous high balls that Hendon floated into the area.

Slough's defence battled away with Tim Smith looking decidedly off colour in midfield, and it became clear that only a miracle would prevent Hendon netting and at last in the 71st minute John Baker was on hand to turn the ball past Barron.

Terry Brown led some occasional sorties into the Hendon defence without success whilst at the other end the Slough defence got itself into some anxious tangles. Eight minutes from the end another ball that "stood up" from a free kick floated onto John Baker who nodded home the equaliser.

From now on Slough had to battle away to save the tie, and did in fact look dangerous from a corner in the final seconds, the final whistle going with the ball bobbing about in midfield, a fair result in the circumstances being the draw that had been achieved.