Late flourish takes Slough second

For 85 minutes this top-of-the-table clash was a somewhat scrappy and disjointed affair and then suddenly it exploded into life.

Slough scored twice- to secure three vital points-missed a penalty, and Hendon's Stewart Mitchell was sent off.

This win - which extended the Rebels unbeaten run to seven matches - lifted Terry Reardon's side into second spot but until the final minutes of an unspectacular game it looked as though Slough would have to settle for a share of the honours.

But then Gary Attrell scored to put Slough ahead and in the dying seconds substitute Rowan Dodds made the three points secure with his first goal of the season.

This clash between the second and fourth placed sides in the Servowarm Isthmian League, Premier Division certainly was not a game for the connoisseur.

Punctuated by a series of niggling fouls and off the ball incidents-of which Hendon were the main culprits - it never really flowed and the referee's failure to stamp his authority on the game did not help matters.

Slough had hardly got their thoughts together than within four minutes Hendon were ahead.

Richard Bradford headed a corner on and as Steve Norman failed to clear Adrian Smith pounced to fire home from close range.

At this stage the Rebels looked in real trouble and with Tony Doherty and Joe Moloney constantly getting caught out of position the defence looked far from sure of itself.

However they survived but, with Hendon looking the more committed side few clear cut chances were created by Slough.

Francis Araguez-replacing the injured Eddie Hutchinson- hit the bar with a cross and Mick Doherty headed wide when well placed following some superb work by Devon Petty.

Then right on half time the Rebels got themselves back in the match. After a free-kick had been blocked by the Hendon defence the ball fell to Tony Doherty who sent Norman away with a superb pass. Norman, cut in for goal and then from a difficult angle sent a fine shot past Clive Kempton to net his fourth goal of the season.

After the interval Slough began to dominate affairs and inspired by Petty and Mick Doherty they looked a different side.

Petty produced some outstanding skills while Doherty showed what a class player he is with some delightful balls and touches.

Often the ability of Doherty is not fully appreciated by some Slough supporters but if you consider the fact that he is leading scorer and has also created 17 of the Rebels goals this season, little more needs to be said.

Tony Levy wasted a good chance for Hendon while Henry Pacquette struck the side of the post with a shot and Attrell bravely just failed to capitalise on a bad Steve Wilkins back pass.

With a draw looking likely Slough then struck after 85 minutes. Joe Moloney saw his header from a corner cleared off the line and collecting the loose ball Attrell shot from just inside the penalty area.

It was not a particularly powerful effort but it crept past Kempton at the base of the post and into the net.

In the 91st minute the Rebels were awarded a somewhat controversial penalty after Mitchell was adjudged to have fouled Attrell, and it all ended with the Hendon defender being booked and then sent off for dissent.

However the Slough penalty curse struck again as Mick Doherty's kick hit the post and rebounded back into play, and for the third time this season he had missed from the spot.

But the action did not stop there and three minutes later Dodds superbly headed home a perfect Mick Doherty cross to complete a memorable end to what until the 85th minute had been a far from sparkling occasion.