Kiely's late goal sends Rebels top

IF SLOUGH Town win the Berger Isthmian League, Premier Division title this season, then Micky Kiely's 92nd minute goal against Hendon at Claremont on Saturday could prove to be the deciding factor.

Because it was the Rebels' leading goalscorer's last ditch effort which won his side a precious point and took them back to the top - ahead of Wycombe Wanderers, on goal difference, who lost 2-0 at Enfield.

In atrocious conditions Slough battled back bravely after conceding a 13th minute goal against a Hendon side who had won their five previous matches. However as at Tooting the previous Saturday, it looked as though despite dominating the majority of the match, the Rebels would slip to their second successive defeat.

But then in the second minute of injury time Kiely grabbed his 25th goal this term - and at the end of the season it could prove to be his most important.

Making his debut for the Rebels was John Bishop, signed on a free transfer from Enfield the day before.

And the former Enfield star showed some neat touches and also had a hand in Slough's goal and looks like being a valuable asset in the side’s championship bid. Eric Young, who was being watched from the stand by Norwich City manager Ken Brown, returned in the centre of the defence and Steve Norman moved to right back, replacing Dave Yerby. Dave Russell was substitute with Barry Friend absent, nursing the injury he received at Tooting.

It was an in form Hendon side which drew first blood when they went ahead after 13 minutes. A cross from Peter Deadman, on the right, completely caught the Slough defence out and the ball found the unmarked Alan Crosby who neatly fired past the advancing Richard Teale from 10 yards.

The Rebels quickly replied with a scorching shot from Pat Morrissey, which Fred Smart did well to push over for the first of 17 corners Slough were to force.

And then at the other end only a brilliant goal-line clearance by John Beyer prevented Hendon from going further ahead. A poor attempted back pass by Norman let Kevin Folan through. He rounded Teale and placed his shot towards an empty net, but Beyer made a fine recovery to push the ball away for a corner.

Then before the interval Slough went close on three occasions to equalising. An Eric Young header hit the outside of the post, and twice Eggie James went desperately near to scoring.

Within a minute of the second half Slough suffered a blow when Young re-opened the cut above his right eye he suffered in training the previous week. But after a four minute absence, when the cut was stitched again, he returned back to the action. By now Slough were in total control, but for all their domination could not penetrate a solid and safe looking Hendon defence.

It was from a rare break, when Hendon were at their most dangerous, that only the woodwork foiled Jock McGleish after a ball from Folan had split the Rebels' defence and caught them square.

With 74 minutes gone, and in a desperate attempt to salvage at least a point, Laurie Churchill replaced Norman with Russell and played three at the back for the remainder of the match. Still Slough were in total control, but despite forcing corner after corner - 12 in the second half - they could not find a way through Hendon's defence. There were numerous tremendous scrambles in the home side’s goalmouth, which by now was a mass of liquid mud, but the ball would not seem to fall right for the Rebels.

And then in the second minute of injury time Slough finally scored - when most of the spectators were about to salute a Hendon win. The ball was played in from the right, Bishop headed it on and Kiely stole in to push his shot past Smart and watch it slowly run over the line at the far post.

There was barely time for the referee to re-start the match and Slough had snatched a dramatic and vital point.