Debacle Of The Bromley Match

It’s amazing what a difference four short months can make in football. Such a short while ago Slough Town, under the incredible management of Laurie Churchill had collected a remarkable treble and celebrations at Wexham Park were prolonged into the hours of the night.

Now in the middle of September with that great side in tatters after deservedly losing to Bromley, bottom of the table, Laurie Churchill has tendered his resignation, skipper Micky O'Sullivan has asked for a transfer, all that is left is a forlornly hanging championship flag over the club entrance and the cover of the programme depicting O'Sullivan lifting aloft the Hitachi Cup in triumph!

In the meantime the Wexham Park club will have to pick themselves up from a run of appalling performances that have followed their 5-2 victory over Tooting and Mitcham last month, and they will need the help of their supporters who were streaming out of the ground ten minutes before the end of Saturday's debacle.

Bromley and Slough played out the first half hour a period of misplayed passes and inaccurate shooting with neither side looking any better than the other.

In the 30th minute a free kick was awarded just outside the Slough penalty area. Dave Lucas fired the ball hard into the Slough defence wall and it rebounded slowly towards Frank Parsons who somehow palmed it slowly into his own net as he dived.

Slough tried to create some openings but with only Keith White applying himself to the game and with abysmal service from the midfield they could make little impact upon the uncompromising Bromley defence.

After the interval matters changed a little. The Slough defence looked wafer-thin, a total contrast to that of last season, but Bromley could hardly believe their good fortune when, with oceans of time to clear the ball Les Barrett pushed it straight to Butch Dunn to give him a free path to goal. Parsons bravely smothered Dunn's shot, but the ball ran on to Dave Lucas who had the simplest of chances to score a second.

Slough came back into the attack and began to dominate. Peter Wesson was replaced by Ispell, an unfortunate time for the youngster to receive his Isthmian League baptism. O'Sullivan had a shot well held by Broadman, and then the Slough captain restored their hopes when a well-flighted cross from Vic Akers evaded the Bromley defence and he was left with the easiest of chances to tap the ball into an unguarded net.

A similar cross bounced off Brookman's shoulder to diverted out of Eggie James' reach. With nine minutes remaining came the killer blow when Joe Moloney missed a high swinging cross.

Unfortunately, without another defender in sight Steve Tomlin, the outstanding player on the field, was given the easiest of chances to score a third and put the game beyond Slough's reach.

In many respects the result was ridiculous in so far that Bromley only had five shots on target throughout the match. Slough had far more of the game but they were totally let down by sub-standard performances from players who have talent and just did not use it.