Harlow Haunted By Slough's Late Show

The Slough Town revival continues this week was the Rebels third successive win at Wexham Park but they left it mighty late before overcoming Harlow with two goals in the last four minutes.

But although the outcome of this Servowarm Isthmian League, Premier Division clash on Saturday hung in the balance until the final minutes the win was well deserved for the Rebels, and in the autumnal surroundings there was a whiff of spring about their approach.

Indeed, despite the lack of leading marksman Rowan Dodds and Peter Skerritt, two players who would hold a claim in any Slough side, there was enough to see in the freshness of ideas to suggest that things have turned a corner after the disastrous October slump.

There were many fine performances in this match, and if one singles out Devon Petty for a display of sparkling brilliance and Dave Alexander for his dominant role in the midfield it should not detract from the way Slough recovered from a ragged start to record an impressive win.

As usual there was something low key about Slough's start, in fact, it seemed that their thoughts were elsewhere in a bumbling opening period and it came as no surprise when Harlow went ahead after just seven minutes.

With the defence all at sea Marc Das twice tricked Dave O'Flaherty before crossing into the Slough penalty area where Bobby Harding past Richard Teale from close range.

For a while Harlow were well on top and only some fine covering work from Moran Dodds at right back saved the situation. And Harlow almost went further ahead following an awful mix up.

Teale threw the ball out to Eddie Hutchinson who was not looking and stretching for the ball Dodds passed back to Robbie Holland, who saw the ball cannon goalwards off his legs for Teale to dive backwards and save on the line.

After this shock the defence pulled itself together and were scarcely troubled again. Colin Tate set off on one run which saw him round Kevin Shoemake, but the angle was too acute and the Harlow 'keeper recovered to save.

Slough then forced a flurry of corners but the ball would just not cross the line. O'Flaherty saw a goal-bound shot strike Kevin Aherne on the back and loop over the bar and then an appeal for a penalty after Micky Taylor appeared to handle was turned down.

With all this pressure Harlow had to capitulate and after 30 minutes the equaliser arrived. Tate out on the right beat two defenders and fired a shot against the far post and as the ball rebounded Adrian Smith squeezed it off a couple of defenders and across the line.

Slough continued to attack and an incredible one man
assault by the speedy Petty had Shoemake in all sorts of trouble as the young Slough player twice beat the 'keeper only to be thwarted by good covering from the Harlow defence.

After the interval a good ball from Petty sent Tate off towards goal but his final shot was just wide and then when Smith broke through he was brought down by Shoemake, an action which brought the 'keeper a booking.

The Rebels continued to plug away with some patient football and an excellent effort from Keith White skimmed the bar and another shot from Holland was deflected just wide.

Still the action and near misses continued and Tony Carr saw his last ditch clearance hit Tate and bounce just wide of the stranded Shoemake.

With ten minutes left Steve Procter replaced Floyd Dennis with Dodds moving into the attack, and almost immediately the goalscoring hero of the previous week had the ball at his feet, but Shoemake saved bravely.

And so the one way traffic went on and with the Slough Supporters looking anxiously at their watches and willing something to happen it did after 86 minutes.

Proctor, moving up from right back, found Tate who slipped through the Harlow defence to cooly stroke the ball home and keep up his goal-a-game record since signing from Wycombe.

Harlow suddenly wilted and then with a minute to go Tate hit the post for the second time and as the ball was cleared uncertainly it reached Alexander, who struck a fine shot that took a startling deflection past Shoemake to give the scoreline a realistic appearance.