Rowan's piece of magic is only bright spot

One piece of Rowan Dodds magic after 66 minutes was the only bright spot as Slough Town completed their 1982-83 Servowarm Isthmian League, Premier Division home programme with this disappointing display against Bromley at Wexham Park on Tuesday evening.

After the scintillating display the Rebels had produced against Sutton in the previous home match no doubt the Slough fans were hoping that the side would again produce some of that magic in this final home league match.

However, apart from the odd glimpses of that kind of form there was little for the home supporters to cheer about and, at the end of the day a much improved Bromley side fully deserved the three points which they clinched thanks to an 80th minute winning goal.

One Slough player who will have been particularly disappointed with the result is goalkeeper Frank Parsons, as Bromley are now managed by his brother Geoff, who recently took over in charge of the Kent side.

From the moment Gary Attrell missed the kind of chance he usually gratefully accepts after three minutes the signs were there that this was not going to be Slough's night as battling Bromley never really allowed the Rebels to get into their stride.

Attrell's chance came after a poor back pass by Graham Taylor fell away short of goalkeeper John Vincent. But having intercepted the ball and with only Vincent to beat, Attrell never fully got it under control and the chance was wasted.

Shots by Eddie Hutchinson and Vaughan Powell then went close but generally play was confined to the midfield area and neither side really looked like breaking the deadlock.

But then following their first corner of the match after 31 minutes Bromley took the lead. After first Dave Yerby and then Tony Doherty had cleared efforts off the line the ball finally found defender Micky Brookman and, from some 12 yards he fired it home despite the despairing effort of Francis Araguez on the line to keep it out.

Play continued not to reach any great heights although Dodds always promised that he would be the one player to bring some sparkle and life to the entertainment.

And 19 minutes into the second half he came close to scoring what would have been one of the finest goals at Wexham Park this season. He collected a poor clearance from Vincent and noticing the goalkeeper way off his line, he immediately sent a shot back which beat Vincent but then bounced just wide of the post.

However, two minutes later Dodds made no mistake with his 28th goal of the season and what a beauty it was. A long kick by Parsons was headed on by Keith White and Dodds shook off the challenge of Tony Booth and from some 15 yards cracked the ball over the head of Vincent for a truly fine goal.

Slough now looked set to take Bromley apart and win the game but the expected never materialised and in fact, it was the Kent side who struck gold ten minutes from time.

In trying to keep the ball in play Rebels substitute Simon Delahunty inadvertently set Bromley back on the attack. Ronnie Murrock seized on the chance, rounding Parsons and then sending the ball across the goal for Steve Tomlin to accept the simplest of chances.

Slough now tried desperately to salvage a point and a superb run and cross by Yerby on the right saw Dodds head wide when well placed. Joe Moloney then saw a goal-bound header kept out and in the final seconds after a surging run by Araguez the ball just eluded Attrell and Slough's home season had finished on a somewhat disappointing note.

This was the Rebels' fourth home league defeat this term.