Rebels Progress In Cup

Slough Town duly booked their place in the draw for the FA Cup first round proper with this convincing victory over second division Abingdon Town at Culham Road Saturday.

A magnificient attendance of 1070, Abingdon's largest for many years, witnessed three goals and many more missed chances despite the gale force wind and driving rain which prevailed throughout the match.

Slough had obviously done their homework as they stifled the normally free-scoring Abingdon attack, and Tony Knight kept a tight grip on play-maker Paul Spittle. Geoff Bateman shackled six foot striker Dave Cook.

Abingdon started brightly as Dave Ward had the first shot on goal after just four minutes but the wind carried the ball wide of the far post.

Bobby Dell, playing in midfield in place of the injured Mark Hill, set up many Slough attacks and Steve Thompson and Tommy Langley benefitted from seeing a lot of the ball in the opening 15 minutes.

The Rebels opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Mark Adams robbed Eddie Innes on the left wing, and sent over a teasing centre which eluded Abingdon's centre half John Harvey-Lynch. Thompson headed the ball downwards and it bounced over Keeper Colin Fleet to end up in the back of the net.

Neale Stanley was constantly caught in the Abingdon offside trap as the home side tried to avoid conceding a further goal but several decisions by the linesman were borderline. Abingdon also had their chances - one notable centre across the face of the goal by Innes was just crying out for an Abingdon boot to make contact.

Abingdon forced several corners but the fierce wind prevented any good deliveries into the Slough danger area.

Half time arrived with the match finely balanced, with Slough just about deserving their single goal advantage.

After the interval the Rebels threatened to increase their lead when first Stanley and then Langley found themselves in space. But home keeper Fleet dived bravely at their feet to make two notable saves.

At the other end Trevor Bunting’s interception two yards from the goal line to prevent the underdogs equalising as Cook ran in to meet a centre from Spittle.

In the 55th minute Slough scored their second goal in bizarre fashion, Thompson receiving the ball wide on the right, and sending in a left foot center at knee height where a mass of bodies blocked the route to goal. However Mark Adams dummied over the ball, deceived Kelvin Alexis and Fleet, while the ball ended up in the back of the net.

In the 60th minute Innes received a facial injury and had to leave the field so Darren Hickey slotted into the Abingdon back four.

The home side were still forcing the pace and a succession of corners gave the Slough supporters some anxious moments.

Ten minutes from time Cook had a golden chance but completely miskicked. Two minutes later Varney replaced full back Brian House as Abingdon manager Paul Lee attempted to push more men forward.

This led to the third Slough goal in the 83rd minute as Adams disposessed Hickey and fed the ball to Langley. The ex-Chelsea man ran few yards before firing low shot which gave Fleet no chance.

Abingdon Town were from disgraced but in the Slough's overall ability won the day.