Slough triumph over their old rivals

On a sunny afternoon at Loakes Park in front of about a thousand spectators Slough ended their season on a high note far removed from the scramble at Wexham Park just two days previously.

The final score-line hardly shows that this was a pretty comprehensive win, for referee Keen turned a blind eye twice to infringements on Dodds well within the Wycombe penalty area in the second half, Evans was twice within an inch of scoring, and it was not until the final 30 seconds that Henry Pacquette managed to beat Rackley.

Yet the game began quietly for Slough for whom Dylan Evans returned to the exclusion of Tony Gibson while Derek Sweetman played a most impressive 90 minutes on his first appearance at Loakes Park.

Obviously the Wycombe groundsman had given the pitch a good soaking before the start, a fact that doubtless had a lot to do with the quality of the game.

During those early minutes it was Wycombe who called the tune and the Slough defence had a few moments of difficulty to overcome, but gradually they sorted things out and after 17 minutes Kennedy shot wide following some good approach work.

Four minutes later Slough took the lead. Russell's short corner was slipped to Eddie Hutchinson and as his accurate cross skimmed the straining heads of the home defence Peter Skerritt was on hand to head the ball past Lester.

Slough now settled down to play some excellent football and brilliant work by Dodds and Evans set up Howard Kennedy whose anxiety to score against his old side was apparent again as he shot over the bar.

Meanwhile Wycombe pushed most of their attacks down their right and Henry Pacquette was always involved. Shooting over the bar as he cut in from the right he had another opportunity shortly afterwards only to be thwarted by a fine save from Rackley.

Two minutes before the interval marvellous control from Rowan Dodds sent Howard Kennedy away and his persistence took him past three defenders and Gary Lester as he forced the ball home with a wave of triumph at the terraces.

With a two-goal lead at half-time the main topic of conversation amongst the travelling fans was would they throw their advantage away as in recent games? They need not have worried.

Slough continued to call the tune and Dodds nearly added to the score following a brilliant solo run despite a push that sent him off the ball in front of the referee as he closed in on Lester.

Wycombe replaced Kikurenda with Roger Moore and Colin Tate forced Rackley to save well at the foot of the post, then Evans, running through the Wycombe defence, took the ball round Gary Lester and was about to place it into an unguarded net when Jimmy Jacobs miraculously intervened to hook the ball over the bar for a fruitless corner.

Terry Glynn tried a long shot for the home side which Rackley dealt with, then Rowan Dodds, cutting in from the right, was held by the arms by Anton Vircavs as he tried to round Lester. A clear case for a penalty it seemed, but referee Keen thought otherwise.

Within minutes Slough were again out of luck when Dylan Evans' cross-cum-shot ran along the Wycombe crossbar and away with Lester well out of position. The "Blues" kept plugging away, but Peter Skerritt's mastery in the air kept them at bay, and the Rebels continued to play controlled football that never reaped its true reward.

With the game into injury time and a poor shot from Terry Glynn going wide, it seemed as though Wycombe would never score, but in the final 30 seconds, another Slough attack broke down and with the whole side wrong-footed the ball broke to Henry Pacquette who was lurking on the half-way line. True as an arrow, he sped unhampered down the field to shoot past Peter Rackley to give Wycombe a late consolation.

At the final whistle Keith White took his team to the Slough end to give a deserved round of applause to that most fine bunch of supporters whose loyalty to the club is quite outstanding.