It's A Stalemate

Football is meant to be a team game but at Wexham Park on Tuesday evening both Slough Town and Wycombe Wanderers seemed to be at odds with themselves.

Somehow after an enterprising start this local clash developed into a frantic battle and there was little in the way of constructive football or any structure to either sides play.

In fact, the game became like a tennis match as the ball bobbed about from one end of the pitch to the other constantly wiping out the midfield skills of these two great rivals.

There were thankfully, however, several moments to savour from what was otherwise a disappointing Servowarm Isthmian League, Premier Division clash. And these included a quite brilliant Declan Link masterpiece for Wycombe and a high class effort which brought Colin Tate his 11th goal this season for the Rebels.

It was Tate's seventh minute goal which gave Slough and the game a flying start. Charlie Flaherty released Rowan Dodds down the right. He swept past the lunging tackle of Graham Pearce and then pulled the ball back for Tate to sweep home past Gary Lester.

Tate looked lively in the opening stages and with a header brought a good save out of Lester, while on 19 minutes a scorching close range blockbuster from Anton Vicars was superbly kept out by Les Currell.

Then in the space of two minutes Wycombe struck Slough a double blow as they cruelly exposed the heart of the Rebels' ponderous defence.

With 24 minutes on the clock Link turned Joe Moloney with precision, left the big defender for dead, and embarked on a surging 35-yard run which finished with a screaming shot past Currell and a real masterpiece of a goal.

And two minutes later Wycombe were ahead. Again Slough's hesitancy in defence proved fatal and Link was able to set up Simon Reed for a simple chance from some ten yards out.

Only the legs of Lester then foiled Terry Glynn as he burst past Dave Burgess to set himself up but on 42 minutes Slough were level.

From Keith White's corner Rowan Dodds beat Lester to the ball and saw his header helped into the net by the outstretched leg of Pearce, with Dodds claiming his 19th goal this term.

After the excitement of four goals the second half fell away badly and petered out into stalemate. Everyone seemed to be swept along on a tide of frantic and totally unconstructive action. How the game cried out for someone to put their foot on the ball and slow things down, but the pace just got quicker and the play even more disoriented.

Devon Petty returned to first team action after more than a month on the injury list when he replaced Tate on 66 minutes. And, with his first touch he almost scored, seeing his effort following an Alexander freekick blocked close to the Wycombe goalline.

Link always looked menacing and with one touch of magic again set up Reed. But this time Currell made a superb reflex save and the loose ball was hastily cleared to safety. By now the Slough defence had settled somewhat and looked a little more composed, although Reed was allowed to worm his way through on 74 minutes, but then scorned the chance by shooting way off target.

With just two minutes left Slough had the opportunity to give boss Howard Kennedy the win he badly wanted over the club he spent many of his playing years with.

Glynn chased a long ball and bustled his way through with tremendous endeavour to set up the opening. But Lester advanced well to close down the possibility and was able to block Glynn's effort and the danger and final scoring chance of this frantic battle was over.

After the match Rebels boss Kennedy said: "Wycombe beat Slough easily earlier in the season so it was an improvement on that result. But we can't keep offering sides Christmas presents every week by giving goals away, although our back four did tighten up in the second half. It was difficult out there because everyone seemed to get carried away on a tide of frantic football. “

“In the end it would have been nice to have won it with Glynn's shot at the finish, and on Saturday against Sutton I will be looking for the same amount of endeavour but with a little more thought."