Battling Simon earns booking and the seal of approval

Slough Town

Slough Town

1
Russell (31)
Staines Town

Staines Town

1
Jordan (53)
League Attendance: 325
Simon Delahunty, latest local lad to make his debut in a Slough Town shirt, was given a firm vote of confidence by manager Terry Reardon after his first Isthmian League appearance at Wexham Park on Tuesday night.

Although Slough's performance showed no significant improvement from recent weeks, the blond midfielder did enough to warrant an extended run for the Rebels.

Said manager Reardon; " I was pleased with Simon. He is a good passer of the ball and was very aggressive, which is just what we want in midfield. He seems to relish a battle. Basically he is an up-front player but I can visualise him doing a job for us in midfield and I will probably give him his chance over the next few weeks."

Delahunty was booked in the second minute for a late tackle and obviously had to be careful afterwards, but although he drifted out of the game for long spells, he did show plenty of spirit.

Generally Slough were unable to put serious pressure on the Staines defence, and the win, which would have kept them firmly in contention at the top of the table, eluded them.

In fact, Slough's first real shot - a dipping 25 yard drive from Dave Russell - produced their only goal in the 31st minute, but Staines levelled in the 53rd minute with one of the most bizarre goals.

Tony Doherty made the first mistake, mis-timing a back pass which Declan Link latched on to. Link's shot was blocked by the diving Frank Parsons and when Simon Read followed up, Eddie Hutchinson was on the line to clear. All Staines got from the incident was a corner but when it came over, Link turned the ball goalwards. Hutchinson was again on the line but in attempting to clear, he hammered the ball against Dave Jordan's head and it rebounded forcefully into the net.

Jordan knew nothing about it, either before or afterwards, for so forcefully did the ball strike him that he was helped off the pitch in the 75th minute with vision problems.

The Staines defence has conceded 57 league goals this season. But apart from Russell's lashing left foot shot from 20 yards, goalkeeper Lara was never seriously troubled, although the introduction of Vaughan Powell with 15 minutes remaining almost produced a Slough winner.

First Powell threaded a free-kick through to Russell, who shot straight at the keeper, then he earned a corner, taken by Hutchinson, which Dodds headed downwards only for Kevin Collins to kick off the line.

Staines Town Lineup

Rebels

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