That old cup magic again

SLOUGH travelled to Walton on Saturday with a new signing - Mick Wharton - and duly won their F.A. Cup Group Final with remarkable ease.

It certainly is a strange season for Slough with a dreadful league record, sitting securely at the bottom of the Premier Division, they have won their group despite having the bad luck to be drawn away in every round, scoring nine goals and conceding only two.

In fact so superior were Slough to previously undefeated Walton and Hersham that they could have scored half a dozen with just a little luck.

Mick Wharton, who has had league football experience with Norwich City, settled comfortably into the back four and with Eric Young fit to resume again alongside him John Beyer moved to right back in place of Tim Turl.

This back four utterly strangled the Walton attack and gave Dale Scott the confidence to return to his real form behind them, where his handling was faultless. With a solid rearguard, Slough were able to press forward and play some impressive football that should presage a change in the club's fortunes.

Slough dominated from the kickoff and were quickly into their stride, taking the lead after 16 minutes with an excellently contrived goal. Eric Young slipped a perfect ball down the right to Alan Gane, whose accurate cross was flicked neatly past Ian Mason by Micky Kiely with his head.

Five minutes later Peter Feely set a chance up for Dave Russell, but the shot went inches wide.

Slough continued to press forward, but almost got themselves into trouble on the half-hour following Freddie Sterling's free kick which ricocheted off several legs before being hacked away by Beyer, and Slough quickly responded when Eric Young hit the bar with a tremendous header from a corner.

Peter Feely then appeared to be clear of the home defence but he was hacked down by John Adams, who was immediately cautioned by referee Griffiths.

Walton forced their first corner in the 42nd minute, Steve Norman skimmed the bar from 20 yards, and then Feely had cruel luck when his shot hit the goalkeeper and went for a corner via the post.

The second half continued to see Slough dictate the play and Feely, Gane, Friend, Russell, and Kiely all had cruel luck in front of goal, where the ball just would not run for them.

At last fate relented in the 74th minute when Russell collected an astute pass from Kiely and crossed low into the home goalmouth. As Peter Feely was sent sprawling the ball hit Keith Weaver and bounced into the net past Mason.

Slough almost went further ahead when Gane burst through the defence to scrape the crossbar with a fine effort.

Walton brought on Brown for Ron Nelson, while Slough substituted Ian Cooke for Barry Friend. In a late effort to reduce the deficit Gary Hawkett injured himself, rolling on and off the pitch in agony as play went on undisturbed.

Eventually he reappeared from a crowd of sympathetic onlookers to resume apparently none the worse for wear as the referee signalled the end of the game, to the delight of the loyal Slough supporters who - to their eternal credit - never gave up.