Working Overtime

Slough Town had to work overtime on Tuesday evening but the goals that finally dumped spirited Bromley out of the AC Delco Cup were worth waiting for.

After 90 minutes of fairly life-less entertainment this first round clash really burst into life during extra-time and the Wexham Park faithful were rewarded with stunning goals from Steve Norman and Dean Woodley.

And it was these goals that ended Bromley's hopes of any giant-killing act and gave the Rebels a second round away clash at Premier Division rivals Carshalton Athletic.

But for a long time Slough were far from convincing and yet again this season they had to come from behind to salvage a match. However, you certainly can't fault the commitment and fitness of Howard Kennedy's side and as on so many occasions it finally saw them through to another victory.

“It was a good training session for Saturday's game, said Rebels' boss Howard Kennedy afterwards. He continued: "It's a good sign when you can win matches when you are not playing particularly well. Once we had clawed our way back in the second half I had no worries, and once extra-time came I thought we would beat them easily. “I was also pleased because in the last 15 minutes of extra-time we had more shots at goal than in any half this season.”

The midfield trio of Jimmy Jacobs, Devon Petty and Keith White all started to create problems for the Bromley defence and that's a good sign," added Kennedy.

Tony Knight's groin injury gave John McDaid his first full game in the centre of the Rebels' defence but it was Bromley clearly a strong bet for promotion in Division One who caused the early problems.

And after 20 minutes they shocked Slough by taking the lead. For the second successive match new 'keeper Graham Cox was left helpless by a stunning shoats Brian Gregory crashed home his 13th goal of the season after good work by Neil Misson had split Slough's defence.

Slough despite struggling to find any cohesion to their play then had their chances to get back but first Norman, and then Jeff Bateman, shot wildly over lough, the bar from close range when golden opportunities beckoned.

With former Charlton and Gillingham stalwart Dick Tydeman using his experience to good effect in midfield for Bromley, Slough were struggling until they popped up with an equaliser on 50 minutes.

Kenny Wilson's throw on the right was headed on by Bateman and Dodds before Micky Kiely got in the final header that glanced over Nicky Sullivan's head into the net.

This should have been the key for Slough to take complete control of affairs but it never happened and, they had a lucky let-off when Gregory got clear and saw his shot beat Cox and hit the top of the crossbar.

Rowan Dodds always looked the most likely player to finally unlock Bromley's resolute defence and it came as something of a surprise especially to himself when Norman finally broke through for Slough in the fourth minute of extra time.

When the ball was cleared to the Rebels right back, from 20 yards he hit a first-time shot straight over Sullivan's head into the roof of the net. "

“The goal was a complete mystery to Steve. He didn't really know where the ball had gone and thought his shot had gone behind," said Kennedy.

Suddenly Slough started to buzz and within minutes of replacing Wilson it was substitute Woodley who set Wexham Park alight with a 25-yard rocket shot which was superbly tipped over the bar by Sullivan.

For some reason in the second period of extra-time Bromley lost their cool. They were guilty of a series of cynical fouls and niggling often off the incidents ball-and at one stage were almost fighting amongst themselves.

Several Bromley players can, in fact, count themselves lucky they escaped with not even a booking from referee Alan Rogers.

However, this period will be best remembered for Woodley's superb third goal after 108 minutes. He picked up the ball and from fully 30 yards sent a powerful swerving shot past the helpless Sullivan into the corner of the net.