Rowan makes it 25

Slough Town will be disappointed with the result of this match which they dominated for long periods, but at the same time will take note that their lack of killer instinct in front of goal has in the long run taken them away from a position to challenge for the Servowarm Isthmian League, Premier Division championship that had seemed theirs for the taking earlier in the season.

Barking, who have produced some notable goalkeepers in recent times provided another ace on Saturday. With Kevin Hitchcock now at Nottingham Forest they arrived with young Dave Root who produced a quite exceptional performance to frustrate Slough time and again.

With the Wexham Park pitch surprisingly bone hard despite being covered with pools of water on the previous Tuesday, Slough kicked off with some confidence now that Frank Parsons was back between the posts.

Within seven minutes a defensive error that let in Rowan Dodds saw Root dive bravely at his feet to save.

Within a short space of time Root saved well from Dodds and Gary Attrell, and then Dodds again failed when well placed.

Barking had produced little to trouble Parsons until after half-an-hour, when Paul Cocayne was alleged to have been felled by the Slough goalkeeper as he was challenged in the area. Mr Topping, from Aldershot, pointed immediately to the "spot" and Mark Wright drove the ball to Parsons right.

It seemed that Parsons was determined to make up for his misjudgement as he dived to parry the shot and Slough breathed again. Root then saved well from Keith White, and then in the closing minutes of the first half Slough struck the crossbar twice, firstly direct from Francis Araguez's corner kick and then a Dylan Evans header that had looked a goal all the way.

And so half-time arrived with Slough worth at least a three-goal lead but getting nowhere and frustration clearly creeping into their play.

Early in the second half a White header was spectacularly saved by Root, and it began to look as though it were not to be Slough's lucky day, and then to make matters worse in the 59th minute disaster struck as Barking broke away to take the lead.

A long ball out of defence dropped just beyond Eddie Hutchinson and into the path of Bob Tapping. As it happened Tapping had gathered into his stride at the right moment and he found himself in exactly the same position that had been provided for the Slough strikers in the first half. Showing considerable composure he took the ball to Parsons and beat him at close range to provide an object lesson on how to take chances.

Slough went straight back on the offensive and Root made a back-breaking save to tip Attrell's shot round the post, but six minutes later Slough found the net at last.

A poor back pass let Rowan Dodds through and with Root advancing quickly from goal the Slough player lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net for his 25th goal of the season. This seemed to be the signal for Slough to tie up the points, but Root was always somehow able to hold all that the Rebels could throw at him.