Young Hero

Slough Town found their own Roy of the Rovers style hero at Welling on Saturday and it was real fairy tale stuff as 17-year-old goalkeeper Paul Shannon stepped in to the big time.

The fact is the story that unfolded from this crucial FA Cup, third qualifying round tie at Park Road, could have been taken straight from the famous comic stories.

Disaster struck for Slough with goalkeeper John Granville (groin) and Chris Way (ankle), both carrying serious injuries, ruled out of Saturday’s match.

Friday evening, youth team goalkeeper Shannon was put on standby by manager Howard Kennedy. At 10am Saturday morning it was confirmed that the youngster, with only a handful of youth and reserve games behind him, was in for the big match.

Such was the excitement in the Shannon's Langley home that Paul's parents Alan and Chris, cancelled a planned weekend holiday and instead travelled to Welling to watch their son make his big debut.

At 2.55 pm Paul ran out on to the pitch and before a crowd of around the 600 mark played the game of his young life, including one brilliant save in the dying minutes to keep Slough's cup hopes alive.

At the final whistle Paul was mobbed by his Slough team-mates and the Rebels supporters leaving the somewhat bewildered youngster to remark: "I am over the moon, and just can't really believe it all."

But while the day undoubtedly belonged to Paul---who only left Langley Grammar School three months ago this superb result for Slough was built around a performance in which every player did their bit.

And none more so than Jeff Bateman. He was absolutely brilliant in the centre of defence giving young Shannon total protection; keeping dangerman John Bartley in check and during the entire match not failing once to win an aerial battle.

Even before the Rebels were hit by their goalkeeping crisis they faced an uphill battle at Southern League, Premier Division high flyers Welling and how well they acquitted themselves to the task.

Rebels boss Howard Kennedy said before the game he would be delighted to "get a result" and he was in a buoyant mood afterwards. “That is the first time Welling have not scored this season and with a young boy in goal who has never played before it can't be bad," said Kennedy.

He continued: "Paul did exceptionally well and kept his nerve but if ever there was a man of the match then Jeff Bateman was it today. He was told he had to win everything in the air and he did. “

And Kennedy also revealed that Shannon was himself doubtful until the last minute with an ankle injury he picked up playing for the youth team on Wednesday evening. "He played with his ankle heavily strapped and on Saturday morning it was a choice between Paul and assistant manager Alan Davies as to who played in goal.'-Kennedy added: "Alan was really keen to play he even went out and brought himself some goalkeeping gloves. “

The game itself was 90 minutes and a little more-of pure tension as both sides battled on the compact sloping Park View pitch to gain supremacy.

As early as the third minute Bartley warned Slough of his potential but it was flyaway left winger David Smith who threatened the Rebels most.

On 22 minutes his low cross beat Shannon only for the ball to hit Bartley and rebound straight back into the goalkeeper's arms. And then after 34 minutes, Slough had a remarkable escape when Smith hit a fearsome shot which rocketed off Shannon hit the post and went within inches of putting Welling ahead.

And Slough had their chances with Rowan Dodds failing to make the most of Man of the Match being put clear by Jimmy Jacobs, who also had goalkeeper Terry Jessop in trouble with a high swirling shot.

With the Rebels' midfield working hard and the defence cool and composed, a draw always looked likely. but both sides went desperately close in the second half.

With 56 minutes gone a clever build up involving Dodds and Dean Woodley ended with Jacobs' swivel shot running inches past the post and then a curling Woodley free kick produced a scrambling save from Jessop.

But in the last ten minutes Slough had to survive some nerve tingling moments and Shannon really came into his own. Growing in confidence as the game progressed first he beat out a Bartley shot with the striker clean through and then came, possibly, the save of the season.

With just one minute left Smith again got free and his cross found the unmarked head of Ian Starkey. It looked a goal all the way, but Shannon sprung to his right and pushed the effort around the post with a brilliant one handed save. “I got more confident as the game went on and felt really relaxed. Micky Kiely was a great help as he went behind the goal and kept me on my toes throughout the game," said Shannon afterwards.

And the final word from the young hero: "I was nervous after the game once it had all sunk in, because I didn't really have time to get nervous before the match.