Joe's late goal denies Rebels victory

Slough Town failed once again to squeeze a victory out of their visit to Barking on Saturday, although they came closer than ever before by holding onto their lead until eight minutes from time when Joe Gibbs shot past Frank Parsons for the equaliser.

In the final stages under the dim floodlights of Mayesbrook Park, the Rebels twice nearly stole the Servowarm Isthmian League, Premier Division points, but had they achieved their first ever victory at Barking, it would have been unfair on the home side who held the upper hand for most of the match.

With the Millwall match looming, Terry Reardon took a risk in leaving out Tony Doherty, who is cup-tied for tomorrows cup clash.

As Dave Yerby was unwell, and Francis Araguez is suspended, Kevin Cook made his first team debut at right back with Tony Webster taking his place in the centre of the defence alongside Joe Moloney.

The game itself was unmemorable, despite plenty of endeavour it was untidy from first to last.

What will remain in the minds of those who watched was the bizarre performance of Barking's Les Cobb who combined his deft footballing skills with other less sporting attributes which included a continual stream of abuse at the terraces, and a whole catalogue of misdemeanours on the pitch, consequently providing an added interest of entirely the wrong sort.

Slough started the match in style with Dylan Evans just off target in the first minute, and then taking the lead 19 minutes later when Cook, a member of the Windsor squad last season, played a low cross into the home defence where a deflection carried the ball to the feet of Keith White who shot past Hitchcock.

Within a minute Barking almost equalised. Parsons, who had conceded a free kick inside the penalty area saved brilliantly from Cobb, and Gibbs, seizing on the rebound, hit the post.

Another tremendous shot from Cobb again brought a superb save from Parsons, and on the stroke of half-time Kevin Stead, standing unmarked three yards out, shot hastily over the bar with only Parsons to beat.

The early stages of the second half belonged entirely to Barking. Nicky Crown gave Eddie Hutchinson a torrid time as twice the Slough left back conceded free-kicks in dangerous areas.

Cobb during this period was close to equalising when first he hit a post and afterwards drifted past the Slough defence and past Parsons only to flick the ball wide of the target.

Shortly after this Cobb, who had been getting more agitated as the match progressed, ran into Parsons as he lay on the ground following yet another save and proceeded to hack at the Slough 'keeper. Parsons, rising with difficulty to his feet, dealt a blow in self-defence, then followed a scene when an angry Barking supporter ran onto the pitch and began remonstrating with some of his own players.

The game restarted with the intruder still there, and the match officials seemingly unaware of the fact. Minutes later, Cobb cynically tackled Vaughan Powell and at last entered the referee's notebook, and subsequently he quietened down.

Shortly afterwards Barking split open the Slough defence and Gibbs, out on the right, beat Parsons with a cross-shot that gave the Slough 'keeper no chance.

Strangely after this it was Slough who came the nearest to scoring. With five minutes left Russell beat Hitchcock with a shot that rolled just the wrong side of the post, and then the Barking 'keeper had to dive at full stretch to hold an awkward deflection.

And so the game ended all square, with Cobb still remarkably taking part in a match that he had stamped with his own peculiar trademark, and Slough seemingly none the worse for wear.