Late Goal Robs Town

In view of the many rumours flying about Wexham Park Stadium, on Saturday, regarding the future of Roy Sleap, as manager of the Town Club it was not surprising the team turned in a rather scrappy performance against Hayes.

The goals were both scored in the last ten minutes with Hayes saving the game in the last 30 seconds. This was Hayes' 16th draw in 34 matches.

A cold north wind blowing straight down the pitch helped to keep the crowd well below that normally expected for a local derby, but with both teams having to play for nothing more than a respectable league position there was obviously little to enthuse about.

Slough took advantage of the wind during the first half and were soon pressing. Terry Brown went very close when he flicked Alan Gane's corner past Cox in the 7th minute only for his header to graze the angle of post and bar and pass wide.

Hayes retaliated and Danny Clapton was almost on target with a shot that Dennis Malley charged down. For a while Hayes were in charge as Slough conceded some silly free kicks inside their own half but the Town gradually got back on top aided by some excellent long goal kicks from Paul Barron, and we had a strange incident from one of these when Hayes' keeper Cox was adjudged to have obstructed Brown in the box when fielding the first bounce. However John Beyer's free kick was blocked and half time came with the score-line blank.

Facing the wind in the second half Slough substituted Bob Horastead for Steve Hill. Horastead it must be said is not a striker by inclination but as Hill had hardly touched the ball in the first half it was a gamble worth taking, and truth to tell it began to work to some purpose. John Beyer was just wide in the 57th minute when he pushed forward from a defence that was beginning to look more confident.

Bob Underwood looking more like his old self was setting up several attacks down the left flank and excellent work by Lee from one of his passes saw the ball flicked on to Alan Gane who completely missed his chance.

Roy Davies then set up Lee with a fine through ball and his drive was just stopped by Cox but as the ball ran loose and rolled dangerously towards the net Kent was there to clear off the line. Then a good ball from Alan Gane ran across the area to Roy Davies whose fiercely hit shot beat Cox but ended in the side netting.

Meanwhile Hayes were attacking mainly through Peter Lavers who showed a lot of skill remaining a constant threat in the air which the Slough defence, conceding a lot in height, was hard pressed to subdue. Ray Butler was twice off target with well-hit shots and with everyone beginning to settle for a goal-less draw Slough created a surprise when they went into the lead in the 84th minute.

Tim Turl took a free kick on the right and from the ensuing scramble the ball went to Lee who diverted it past Cox. Straight from the re-start Lee strode through to rifle another drive just wide.

Slough were now looking confident but Bobby Ross forced Barron into a full length save three minutes from the end. Having survived that it was expected that they would hold onto their lead, but that last gasp attack proved just too much. Brown made a great effort to do the impossible in the remaining seconds but the task was beyond him.