Slough Stutter

When the crowd start drifting home with some five minutes left still to play you know they have not been entertained and that was the case at Wexham Park on Saturday.

Many supporters had long since given up any hope of seeing a goal when referee Mr. M. Brown, finally ended this actionless Servowarm Isthmian League, Premier Division match.

Starved of recent football by the February freeze up there was a feeling of anticipation and excitement about this game but, it turned out be a thoroughly disjointed, disappointing affair.

It wasn't for the want of trying that Slough and Hendon could not conjure up something from this match, but, for all their hard efforts over the 90 minutes it was like watching a magician whose tricks kept going wrong.

Each side was continually guilty of wasting good possession and it's hard to recall a game when there were so few goalmouth incidents and shots on target.

Admittedly the recent layoff due to the weather did not help with Slough struggling to find any cohesion or rhythm to their play and the match just petered out into a very scrappy affair.

How this game cried out for the odd touch of class or inspiration but on the day there was just no one to provide it.

Slough certainly missed the midfield perception of Dave Alexander away on a school holiday in Holland while for Hendon, Graham Wilkins showed only the briefest flicker of the skills that have made his international star brother Ray, a world class player.

Chances were few and far between but at the end it was Hendon who could have stolen victory; having one effort hacked off the line and seeing another whizz just inches wide of being a glorious goal.

Keith White battled hard in midfield for the Rebels while Francis Araguez gave another tenacious display at left back. He made numerous timely tackles and must be the most improved Slough player this season.

However on the day the Slough attack received scant service and were also unable to create little themselves in the way of clear openings. Colin Tate showed early promise but then faded away and, in the second half hardly got a sniff of the ball let alone goal.

In fact about the closest Slough came to scoring was as early as the third minute. Francis Araguez sent over a deep cross and Tate rose superbly to see his header just go the wrong side of the post.

Hendon replied with a George Duck effort that just this prolific scorer of goals skimmed the bar but even had a strangely subdued Saturday afternoon.

On 11 minutes Hendon tested the Rebels defence. Fred Barwick released Gary Hewitt on the right and as Les Currell advanced he cleverly chipped the ball over the 'keeper to the far post. Duck rose well to head goalwards but, the consistent Eddie Hutchinson was on hand to clear the danger.

Tate and Terry Glynn both then went at the Hendon defence with surging runs but, on each occasion, having set up the opening their final shots did not bother Hendon's keeper Mark Broughton.

As the game developed so it became more frantic. There was no real pattern to either side's play and all too often a total lack of imagination on the most effective way to create a goal.

After 58 minutes Stuart Mitchell was booked after hauling down Barwick and then nine minutes later Glynn brought a fine one handed save out of Broughton, as the Hendon 'keeper pushed away a shot bound for the bottom corner of the net.

Steve Paris replaced Charlie Flaherty to become the bels this season. But he was 31st player used by the Rebels to make little impression on the already dying proceedings apart from giving Barwick a nasty bruise on the shin with his first "kick" in a Slough first team shirt.

Hendon twice came close to In the last ten minutes snatching it. Paul Robinson's free kick sought out substitute Bob O'Leary and, he got behind the Slough defence to head what looked like being the crucial goal.

But, Mitchell scampered across the goal and did well to hack away the ball despite the challenge of a Hendon forward. And, then in the dying seconds Robinson, who Francis Araguez who gave another tenacious display.

Looked the best player on view, sent in a scorching 30 yarder which almost took everyone by surprise only to whistle just inches past the post. Perhaps it was the sight of green grass again which unsettled the sides but this was certainly a disappointing affair, which had few high points and too many lows to keep the spectators attentions for a full 90 minutes.