Slough Town
5
Lee (17), Brown (51, 70), Beyer (62, 85)
Clapton
0
League
Slough made no mistake when bottom-of-the-league Clapton visited Wexham Park on Saturday. The five-goal success not only earned Slough maximum Rothman's Isthmian League points but gave them the £40 bonus for scoring four or more goals.
The only jarring note was the serious injury to Bob Underwood, the Slough defender, who dislocated a shoulder blade early in the second half. Slough made one change from the team that drew twice with Hendon, Paul Lee replacing Martin Pattison, and it was Lee who proved to be man-of-the match, scoring once, hitting the crossbar, laying on two goals for Terry Brown, and displaying an all-round authority that could possibly have seen Slough through to the third round of the FA Trophy had he been available and not cup-tied.
During the first half Slough took a long time to show their superiority despite having so much time to outwit the visitors, and, with Hill and Brown getting in each other's way, the Clapton defence were able to hold out until the 17th minute when Roy Davies fed Paul Lee with a perfect pass and the striker ran clear to hit a fine shot past Beerling.
Five minutes before the interval Lee hit the crossbar with Beerling well beaten, and a rather dull first half ended with the Rebels just ahead and not looking particularly sharp.
The second half proved to be as entertaining as the first was boring, and within three minutes Terry Brown had hit the bar yet again, while Hill was adjudged to be offside after scoring an apparently good goal. In the 51st minute Paul Lee held the ball well on the by-line and he centred accurately on to Terry Brown's head to increase Slough's lead.
However, within two minutes, Bob Underwood in attempting a tackle, fell awkwardly and the stretcher was called for, Tim Smith replacing him at left-back while Bill Roberts took over in midfield. Paul Lee almost scored a third for Slough when his long, dipping shot was a foot wide after deceiving the goalkeeper, then in the 62nd minute a well-taken corner by Alan Gane went to John Beyer, who nearly put the ball past Beerling to ensure the points for Slough.
In the 70th minute another fine ball from Lee set Terry Brown up for the fourth, and another good corner, this time by Davies, was placed through a ruck of defenders by John Beyer with five minutes to go.
John Beyer almost made it a hat-trick when he headed just wide, and Clapton survived a penalty appeal when Paul Lee was brought down just inside the area, but referee Boswell adjudged this to have been a fair shoulder charge.
It is sad to see a club with Clapton's tradition struggling so badly and obviously booked for relegation, for in the current climate of non-league football it is difficult to visualise an early return to Division 1 for the "Spotted Dog" club.
But for Slough, the five-goal win was a welcome tonic, and this together with the surprise packet of Paul Lee, who can do great things for the club, suggests that the season could end on a high note.
The only jarring note was the serious injury to Bob Underwood, the Slough defender, who dislocated a shoulder blade early in the second half. Slough made one change from the team that drew twice with Hendon, Paul Lee replacing Martin Pattison, and it was Lee who proved to be man-of-the match, scoring once, hitting the crossbar, laying on two goals for Terry Brown, and displaying an all-round authority that could possibly have seen Slough through to the third round of the FA Trophy had he been available and not cup-tied.
During the first half Slough took a long time to show their superiority despite having so much time to outwit the visitors, and, with Hill and Brown getting in each other's way, the Clapton defence were able to hold out until the 17th minute when Roy Davies fed Paul Lee with a perfect pass and the striker ran clear to hit a fine shot past Beerling.
Five minutes before the interval Lee hit the crossbar with Beerling well beaten, and a rather dull first half ended with the Rebels just ahead and not looking particularly sharp.
The second half proved to be as entertaining as the first was boring, and within three minutes Terry Brown had hit the bar yet again, while Hill was adjudged to be offside after scoring an apparently good goal. In the 51st minute Paul Lee held the ball well on the by-line and he centred accurately on to Terry Brown's head to increase Slough's lead.
However, within two minutes, Bob Underwood in attempting a tackle, fell awkwardly and the stretcher was called for, Tim Smith replacing him at left-back while Bill Roberts took over in midfield. Paul Lee almost scored a third for Slough when his long, dipping shot was a foot wide after deceiving the goalkeeper, then in the 62nd minute a well-taken corner by Alan Gane went to John Beyer, who nearly put the ball past Beerling to ensure the points for Slough.
In the 70th minute another fine ball from Lee set Terry Brown up for the fourth, and another good corner, this time by Davies, was placed through a ruck of defenders by John Beyer with five minutes to go.
John Beyer almost made it a hat-trick when he headed just wide, and Clapton survived a penalty appeal when Paul Lee was brought down just inside the area, but referee Boswell adjudged this to have been a fair shoulder charge.
It is sad to see a club with Clapton's tradition struggling so badly and obviously booked for relegation, for in the current climate of non-league football it is difficult to visualise an early return to Division 1 for the "Spotted Dog" club.
But for Slough, the five-goal win was a welcome tonic, and this together with the surprise packet of Paul Lee, who can do great things for the club, suggests that the season could end on a high note.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Paul Barron
- 2 Tim Turl
- 3 Keith Underwood 12
- 4 Tim Smith
- 5 Dennis Malley
- 6 John Beyer
- 7 Steve Hill
- 8 Alan Gane
- 9 Roy Davies
- 10 Terry Brown
- 11 Paul Lee
Substitutes
- 12 Bill Roberts 3