It's goodbye to Slough's Trophy hopes

Not even a super-human display from goalkeeper Kevin Mitchell could save Slough Town from making a quick exit from the FA Trophy at Wexham Park on Saturday, against a Dagenham side that at times outplayed the Rebels with some scintillating football.

Their Alliance Premier League opponents produced some of the best football seen at Wexham Park this season. But the Rebels had their chance to at least prolong their hopes of a successful Trophy run this season, and once again a missed penalty contributed to their downfall-the culprit this time being Eddie Hutchinson after 57 minutes. It seems incredible that Slough cannot find someone who is regularly capable of scoring from 12 yards with only the goalkeeper to beat. They have now missed five spot kicks this season and Rowan Dodds, Dave Russell, Keith White and now Hutchinson have all in turn been entrusted with the task and failed to succeed.

Things started badly for the Rebels with skipper Keith White out with 'flu and striker Dylan Evans injured, and this forced Terry Reardon to field the lightweight midfield combination of Vaughan Powell, Dave Yerby and Kevin Hill who at times were literally over-run by their more forceful Dagenham counterparts with John Sille an outstanding influence.

Dagenham soon had Wexham Park buzzing with some superb football as they tore into Slough, with Chris Maycock and Hubbick the chief destroyers as they ripped open the Rebels' normally solid rearguard.

It took a desperate goal-line clearance by Francis Araguez to foil Jim Sheringham, while giant defender Alan Campbell then shot high over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

Mitchell's heroic display started after 25 minutes when referee Tony Ward awarded the first of two debatable penalty decisions in the match. Hubbick's fine run on the left led to John Dear receiving the ball inside the penalty area, and as he attempted to turn past Tony Doherty, the Slough defender was adjudged to have impeded him.

Doherty was booked for protesting over the decision, but Slough's despair soon turned to joy when Mitchell went to the left to save John Sille's spot-kick.

However, Dagenham still looked threatening and it was no more than they deserved when they took the lead four minutes later. Doherty failed to clear another sweeping move and Sille chipped the ball back into the Slough penalty area. Mitchell and John Knapman went for the ball, it broke loose, and Hubbick slammed it high into the roof of the net.

Slough protested that Knapman had knocked the ball out of Mitchell's hand - and appeared to have a case - but the goal stood.

It was all Dagenham now although Rowan Dodds and Gary Attrell still posed a threat with their now famous darting runs. And, on one occasion the two linked together well with Dodds' final shot only lacking the power to beat Terry Moore after he had turned smartly to expose the visitors defence.

Before half-time Sheringham was booked for a foul on Attrell, and it took fine saves from Mitchell to foil Hubbick and Sille as Dagenham threatened to completely take control of affairs.

Slough must certainly have been relieved to have been only one goal down at half-time, and after the break they did start to get back into the match.

Dave Russell almost capitalised on a moment of panic in the Dagenham defence after just 30 seconds of the half, but soon Mitchell was back in action, saving superbly from Hubbick.

Jeff Bryant then missed a 'sitter' from five yards, and Mitchell again came to the rescue, this time foiling Maycock from 10 yards out. And then came the Rebels' big chance to get back into the match, which really by now should have been beyond their reach. As Attrell cut inside from the left he was brought down by Knapman, and although the foul looked to have been committed outside the box, on the instruction of his linesman Mr Ward awarded a penalty.

But Hutchinson's kick hardly tested Moore, and the Dagenham goalkeeper had little difficulty in moving to his left and saving comfortably.

After this Mitchell continued to frustrate all Dagenham's efforts to make the game safe, while to their credit Slough did rally back and caused several anxious moments at the other end. Dodds saw a goalbound effort blocked after Attrell was quick to react to a poor back pass from Campbell, while Moore did remarkably well to block a Doherty effort as the Rebels forced four corners in quick succession.

At the end of the day Slough can have few complaints about this defeat - they were quite simply beaten by a better side.