Harris Stunner As Chances Go Begging

Slough Town should have had this match well and truly in the bag long before Bishop's Stortford striker Terry Harris stole in to grab a point for his side in the 77th minute at Wexham Park on Saturday.

Given the boost of a sixth minute goal from Rowan Dodds it looked as though the Rebels were continuing where they left off their sparkling display against Harrow Borough some five days earlier.

But then somewhere along the line Slough seemed to lose their way. At times they produced some quite stunning play but it only came in short bursts and, for much of the match they failed to capitalise on the overall superiority they generally enjoyed. The Rebels created more than enough chances to have buried Stortford long before Harris struck 13 minutes from time.

Such was Slough's domination that they forced 16 corners compared to Stortford's four. However, it is easy to be too critical of this Slough display, one should remember that Terry Reardon's young side are still finding their feet and are, after all, still unbeaten this season, in the Servowarm Isthmian League, Premier Division.

Trevor Baron had not recovered from the groin injury he sustained against Harrow so Howard Kennedy made his first appearance of the new campaign in midfield. And within six minutes the Rebels were ahead, Dodds and Kennedy linked well and when Dodds was put clear he celebrated his 150th appearance by watching his shot deflect off Manuel Luque and go past Alex Welsh.

Soon after Dodds took a heavy knock and he never really produced the kind of sparkling play the Rebels rely so heavily on up front, for the remainder of the game. In fits and starts Slough put together some inspirational moves and again Dave Russell looked particularly sharp up front while Devon Petty produced some more dazzling skills.

Twice Russell almost created clear cut chances while a Keith White piledriver whistled just over the bar. Meanwhile, the Slough defence, superbly marshalled by Peter Skerritt, were rarely under any pressure and Peter Rackley was only called upon twice to make worthwhile saves.

The Rebels continued to flatter to deceive after the break and in the opening minutes a delightful move down the right involving Petty, Dave Alexander and Russell ended with the latter seeing his shot just turned away for a corner.

Petty then ended a brilliant jinking run by placing his shot just wide of the target and a near post header by Russell, that looked goal bound, was deflected away for a corner. But despite all this pressure Slough could not score that vital second goal and there was always the nagging fear that Stortford could strike back. And that is exactly what happened after 77minutes.

The crowd were still applauding a brilliant one handed save by Rackley from Harris, when Luque swung over a cross from the right and this time an unmarked Harris headed over the Slough 'keeper and into the net.

Slough still had time to force a string of corners but it was the same old story, so near yet so far. An astute pass from Alexander sent Petty racing clear but he could not find a way past Welsh and then in injury time both Petty and Skerritt saw efforts foiled by Welsh.

Clearly the Rebels will be kicking themselves for surrendering their 100 per cent record in a game they quite clearly should have won, but during the course of the next eight months there will no doubt by many more frustrating afternoons like this one at Wexham Park for Terry Reardon’s side.