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The National League U19 Alliance
7th
26pts

Slough Town

Slough Town

1
White (41)
Bognor Regis Town

Bognor Regis Town

1
Crumplin (31)
FA Cup Attendance: 1637 Kenny Wilson
Slough were denied a richly deserved victory in Saturday's first meeting by a Bognor defender's hand, as well as magnificent goalkeeping.

"When Paul Gardam shot through that crowd of players, the lads were convinced it was hand-balled on the line," said Manager Alan Davies.

That incident - difficult to sort out from the stand - came in the 57th minute (after the Rebels had had to battle their way back from behind after producing their best half of the season at Wexham Park.

Bognor 'keeper Alastair Sperring, once Peter Shilton's understudy at Southampton, revealed a number of the England custodian's habits as he made a string of superb saves to keep out a Rebels side that, for once rose to the big occasion in style.

The biggest crowd of the season, 1,637, watched an opening half hour played out almost exclusively in the visitors' half, before watching in horror as they went behind in freakish fashion in the 31st minute. Slough 'keeper Graham Cox had been virtually unemployed before flapping at a speculative centre from John Crumplin which, hit from distance from the right flank, sailed over him into the net.

Such a setback after such complete domination might easily have destroyed Alan Davies' men, but it merely sparked them into more ferocious assaults on the Sussex outfit's goal.

Jacobs, Brown and Wilson all went agonisingly close, before justice was done with the equaliser four minutes before the break. Dodds worked Wilson's throw back from the by-line and the man who always seems to pop up and get vital goals in FA Cup ties, Keith White, was on hand to poke home from close range.

Probably unable to believe their luck to go in at half-time on level terms, for they hadn't created a worthwhile opening in the first period, Bognor started the second in ominously menacing mood.

Crumplin missed a great chance and ex-England winger Thomas came on as sub to bolster the Rocks' revival. Paul Gardam, who had replaced a less than fully fit Kevin Tilley, had the chance to make a real name for himself in one of his rare first-time appearances.

Waites crossed, the defender connected to shoot past Sperring, but one of a number of players guarding the net managed to clear the ball, with some part of his anatomy, off the line. Despite Slough appeals, ref Ray Lewis, who generally had an excellent game, dismissed the claims.

The Rebels continued to dominate, but rarely got at Sperring from close range as centre-back Marringer offered outstanding protection.

Paul Waites went up front, as the disappointing Brown was withdrawn and it continued to be one-way traffic in a tense last 20 minutes. Wilson, Petty and Jacobs, in particular, were thwarted by the seemingly unbeatable Sperring and it was scant consolation for Slough that they had contributed so much to a tremendous cup tie without getting the result that even the 400 or so travelling fans would surely have agreed they deserved.

Bognor Regis Town Lineup

Rebels

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