Andy Sayer will surely have nightmares for weeks over his astonishing last minute miss that finally consigned Slough to defeat in the Carlsberg Cup at rain soaked Chertsey on Tuesday evening.
Having seen the home side reduced to 10 men, but twice come from behind to claim an extra time lead, the Rebels threw everything into a final desperate assault.
Chertsey 'keeper Adrian Blake made instinctive saves to deny Mark West and Garfield Blackman, but it seemed that he must be beaten in the dying seconds when Trevor Baron placed a perfect header into the home goal-mouth, only for Sayer to somehow scoop the ball over the bar when scoring appeared much easier.
Slough had been surprised by the pace and endeavour of a Chertsey outfit whose fine recent run has seen them take over second place in Diadora League Division One. But having weathered strong first-half pressure, Slough took a 57th minute lead when Brian Connor's cross was only half-cleared and Martin Stone fired home low inside the near post.
The Rebels' task appeared easier when home right-back Gary Smart was sent off for dissent, hut they were never able to make use of the extra man advantage and were finally caught out six minutes before time, when Peterborough trialist Lee Charles pounced on a defensive error to fire low past Trevor Bunting and equalise.
Even so, it seemed that the visitors would prevail when substitute Steve Justin crossed for Steve Baynes to head home in the second minute of extra-time.
Chertsey refused to go under, however, and four minutes later Justin was judged to have brought down Robert Gibson just inside the area and Charles stepped up to fire home the penalty.
Slough looked shattered and they went behind for the first lime in the match when Charles played a neat one-two with Jason Tucker set up the chance for Gibson to knock in off the far post.
Having seen the home side reduced to 10 men, but twice come from behind to claim an extra time lead, the Rebels threw everything into a final desperate assault.
Chertsey 'keeper Adrian Blake made instinctive saves to deny Mark West and Garfield Blackman, but it seemed that he must be beaten in the dying seconds when Trevor Baron placed a perfect header into the home goal-mouth, only for Sayer to somehow scoop the ball over the bar when scoring appeared much easier.
Slough had been surprised by the pace and endeavour of a Chertsey outfit whose fine recent run has seen them take over second place in Diadora League Division One. But having weathered strong first-half pressure, Slough took a 57th minute lead when Brian Connor's cross was only half-cleared and Martin Stone fired home low inside the near post.
The Rebels' task appeared easier when home right-back Gary Smart was sent off for dissent, hut they were never able to make use of the extra man advantage and were finally caught out six minutes before time, when Peterborough trialist Lee Charles pounced on a defensive error to fire low past Trevor Bunting and equalise.
Even so, it seemed that the visitors would prevail when substitute Steve Justin crossed for Steve Baynes to head home in the second minute of extra-time.
Chertsey refused to go under, however, and four minutes later Justin was judged to have brought down Robert Gibson just inside the area and Charles stepped up to fire home the penalty.
Slough looked shattered and they went behind for the first lime in the match when Charles played a neat one-two with Jason Tucker set up the chance for Gibson to knock in off the far post.
Slough Town Line Up
- 1 Trevor Bunting
- 2 Brian Connor
- 3 Danny Nwaokolo
- 4 Steve Bateman
- 5 Trevor Baron
- 6 Kevin Payne
- 7 Martin Stone
- 8 Garfield Blackman
- 9 Mark West
- 10 Andy Sayer
- 11 Steve Baynes