Slough Tacticians Look Back And Reap Dividends

It was as though the years had all rolled away and we were all back in the days when attack was the best form of defence.

Old-timers rubbed their eyes unbelievingly as Slough, fielding two wingers and a centre forward, intentionally or accidentally produced what looked remarkably like the old "W" formation, to create an incredible number of scoring opportunities.

David Russell and Roy Butler, interchanging swiftly from wing to wing, had the Hamlet defence in trouble from the kick-off and young Rowan Dodds showing tremendous talent, scored remarkable hat-trick and hit the home woodwork with Cotter well beaten when the "Rebels" were already 4-1 to the good.

It took only three minutes for Slough to take the lead. Dave Russell delivered a free-kick from just outside the penalty area with tremendous velocity that whipped into the net before Cotter could move.

Dulwich quickly recovered and equalised 12 minutes later, when Tony Field, cutting in from the right, drove a tremendous shot home from outside the area to totally beat Parsons.

Slough gave Dulwich no time to capitalise. After Mark Dewton had headed on to the roof of his own net two minutes later, Russell took a corner from the left that was perfectly met by Dodd's head, and it was 2-1.

The "Rebels" forwards now began to torment the Hamlet defence, and a terrific volley by Russell was brilliantly saved by Cotter.

But after 32 minutes Russell left Edwards sitting on the unmarked Dodds who turf and crossed perfectly to headed his second goal to put Slough firmly on top.

Dulwich, taking a leaf from the visitors' book, now went on to attack and Parsons saved well from Lewington and Edwards. Within five minutes of the restart Dodds completed his hat-trick when he beat four home defenders as he cut in from the right to slip the ball between Cotter and the post, and five minutes later the young centre forward thumped the post with the Dulwich 'keeper helpless.

Now, well prompted by Adams, Barrett and White, Slough looked likely to utterly destroy the home side, but luck did not run their way and it seemed almost as though the referee had taken pity on the Hamlet as time and time again free kicks were incredibly awarded against Butler and Dodds when they were in legitimate possession of the ball.

Twenty minutes from the end Steve Hardwick made a rare mistake when he played the ball into the path of Chris Lewington who roared through to shoot past Parsons.

Russell, Dodds and Butler battled through the mud to be foiled by Good goalkeeping and some unfortunate rebounds.

Gradually their non-stop efforts began to take their toll, and Dulwich, sensing they could still raise enough inspiration to save the game, began to give Parsons some moments of anxiety, including a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area.

In the 90th minute a good shot from Barrett waw well saved by Cotter at the expense of a corner, and just as the crowd thought that the referee was about to blow for time he added an unexplained seven minutes which was rather odd in view of the fact there had been virtually no stoppages.

Nevertheless if this contest is repeated in the same vein when they meet again tomorrow at Wexham Park, those who have given up watching the game should give it another chance, they may be pleasantly surprised!