Slough Make It A Winning Start

Slough Town showed the same type of character and determination which won them the Berger Isthmian League, Premier Division title last term when they kicked off the new season with victory at Carshalton on Saturday. All the goals came in the first half.

With five players unavailable due to either holidays or business commitments, including star central defender Eric Young, manager Laurie Churchill faced a serious selection problem and was forced to play two relatively inexperienced youngsters in a back four which had only played together once before.

But Neil Pettifer and Joe O'Sullivan sent Moloney both performed superbly in the Rebels defence and with the rest of Churchill's side giving another typical battling display, the defending champions finished worthy winners.

The Rebels also had to overcome the handicap of losing the major influence of Keith White in the last 15 minutes when he was carried off on a stretcher with a badly bruised shin bone.

White's injury followed a "crunch" tackle with Carshalton's full back Mark Hopper and it was almost five minutes before White, in great pain, could be carried off the pitch.

But with substitute John Ellis, making his debut, quickly fitting in, the Rebels re-organised and maintained their composure for the final of the match.

Both sides made a rather nervous and anxious start with former Slough player Pat Morrissey causing his old team-mates plenty of problems in the early stages.

With six minutes gone Les Barrett missed a clear shooting chance from 10 yards and then five minutes later a fine ball from Morrissey split the Slough defence and Carshalton player-manager Brian Greenhalgh ran in to head home. However before Morrissey had even crossed the ball in the flag was up for offside and the effort was ruled out.

As the defence began to grow in confidence with Moloney winning most of the aerial battles and Vic Akers doing a fine job behind in his role as sweeper, Slough began to make deep inroads into the Carshalton defence.

Twice the combination of White and Eggie James on the left came close to producing a goal before Micky Kiely put Slough ahead after 25 minutes.

Moloney won the ball inside the Slough half and his powerful long header sent Kiely on his way. After resisting the powerful efforts of Paul Pinchin to pull him back, Kiely strode on before calmly chipping the advancing Gary Lawford from 20 yards and in to the net.

But within 30 seconds, the home side had hit back and were on level terms. The ball was played to Pat Carlon on the right and he found Morrissey just inside the penalty area. Showing all his old skill, he crossed and the unmarked Derek Williams beat Frank Parsons from about five yards with a low shot.

Chances then were missed at both ends until 13 minutes before the interval Slough scored what proved to be the winning goal.

A cross from Barrett, on the left, was only headed out as far as Akers and he played in over the top of the Carshalton defence and Dave Russell nipped in to cleverly push the ball past the ball Lawford for a fine opportunist goal.

Carshalton's best chance to equalise came two minutes into the second half, but a brave save by Parsons foiled the lively Williams when he found himself clear of the Slough defence eight yards out.

Slough also had their chances to make certain of victory with the best of these falling to Micky O'Sullivan after 50 minutes. But from eight yards and with only the keeper to beat he placed the shot wide.

A cross from James just eluded Barrett and ran agonisingly across the face of goal and then with 10 minutes remaining O’Sullivan sent James through. But after resisting the challenge of Andy Coghill he put his shot past Lawford in to the side netting.

During the final minutes there was a flurry of activity from the Carshalton forwards, but the defence held firm despite several anxious moments.

Generally Slough controlled the second half and with Dave Yerby doing a fine job at left back and Morrissey fading for Carshalton any worries Churchill may have had beforehand about his "new formed" defence were reduced the longer the game progressed.