Rowan strikes again

A late goal from Slough Town's leading marksman Rowan Dodds - taking his season's tally to 15- secured the Rebels a share of the spoils at the end of an enthralling game at Colston Road on Saturday.

Played under the luminous chilly dusk of a winter's afternoon this Servowarm Isthmian League, Premier Division clash helped to dispel the cold for the spectators, and provided them with some splendid entertainment.

Former Slough players Micky O'Sullivan, Barry Friend and Eggie James were all ruled out of the Carshalton side for a variety of reasons, and consequently only Vic Akers lined up in Laurie Churchill's team.

Meanwhile, Keith White had not recovered from the ankle injury he received against Millwall, while Kevin Mitchell made his debut for Slough in goal having signed for the club during the week.

Mitchell made a fine save within seconds of the kick off, and then Tommy Tuite, driving like a tank through the Rebel's defence, saw his goal bound shot cleared off the line by Dave Yerby.

After 12 minutes disaster struck when Mitchell, following a misunderstanding with Tony Webster hurriedly cleared the ball from the edge of the area. Unfortunately it rebounded and fell straight at the feet of Tuite, who could not believe his luck as he strode unchallenged up to the Slough goal and placed it into the empty net.

Still Carshalton attacked, and with Andy Coghill being given so much more freedom to roam about in midfield than had been given to any Millwall player the previous Saturday the home side looked to be in a position to give Slough a tough afternoon.

Mitchell made many fine saves to keep Slough in the game, and brilliantly tipped a goal-bound header from Bangs over the bar.

After 20 minutes Gary Attrell at last forced Rick Collier into his first save of the match, but on the whole Slough continued to play second fiddle to the rampant home side.

On the half hour Slough almost equalised when Attrell fired in a shot that Rowan Dodds narrowly failed to squeeze into the goal, injuring himself at the same time as he collided with the goal post.

Almost immediately the Rebels conceded a sloppy corner at the other end, and from the resultant kick Chris Lewington headed the Robins two goals up and they looked almost in an impregnable position.

However, within seconds the whole complexion of the game changed. Almost from the kick off the Carshalton defence were caught sleeping, and Devon Petty collecting a loose ball just inside the area turned swiftly and guided it neatly into the net beyond the reach of Collier.

This not only brought Slough back into the game, but gave them a new belief in themselves. During the early stages of the second half it was the younger Slough that produced the better football.

Carshalton through Tuite and Trevor Darl, raided dangerously but Slough contained most of their attacking ideas.

Midway through the second half Dave Russell, who had sustained a leg injury earlier, was replaced by Tony Doherty in midfield.

With 15 minutes remaining Slough should have equalised when Dodds found the ball at his feet and only Collier to beat, but his well struck effort rebounded off from the crossbar to Doherty whose drive was held on the line by the 'keeper.

With just five minutes remaining good work by Doherty set Vaughan Powell free down the left side and the young midfield player looped a perfect centre over the Carshalton defence to Dodds. He chested the ball down, took aim and drove his shot under the diving Collier to produce a just result to a superb game of football.