Slough Held By Newly Formed Maidenhead Side

The newly-formed Maidenhead Football Club started their season's programme last Saturday with a League match against Slough on the Dolphin ground, and a drawn game was the result.

There were only four old faces in the team, Blay, Wheeler and Clarke, late of the Norfolklans, and Cook, late of the Town club ; the remainder being new men recruited from the town and neighbourhood.

From Saturday's play it would seem that Maidenhead have a well balanced side and, with one or two changes, a successful season should be experienced. The new goalkeeper, Linton (late of Peterborough), Is probably the beat custodian to represent a local club for many years, and Maidenhead are fortunate in securing his services.

Vic Blay is known of old as a reliable back, and his partner, O. D. Care, of White Waltham, should develop into a first-class defender. His tackling and kicking are very sure. The halves are strong, though Cook and Wheeler at times were inclined to tactics open to criticism.

Richards, an old County School Boy, is a valuable asset to the club, and played a clean game throughout. The forwards are on the small side, but are very tricky and show a fine turn of speed. Saturday's play was very fast during the first half, but slackened considerably during the second period, due, probably, to stiffness and the very hot sun.

Blay won the toss, and the exchanges were slightly in favour of Maidenhead at the start, for they were better together than Slough. Nothing of interest happened for about 10 minutes, when, following a free-kick against a Slough defender, Strickland received the ball, and after maneuvering a position, scored a fine goal from about 20 yards range.

This goal roused Maidenhead and some good work in front of the Slough goal, in which Pearce was very noticeable, nearly led to another point, a shot from Pearce missing the mark by inches.

Slough were about this time trying hard for an equaliser and some grand runs were seen on the Slough left wing, where Grant and Sherwood got through a tremendous amount of work. One shot from Grant was well saved by Linton, and shots from Sherwood and Fulford narrowly missed.

Later, the Maidenhead forwards got going again, and as a finish to some fine work by Pearce and Hancock, the first-named player placed Maidenhead head two goals to the good with a cross-shot which gave Bruton, in the Slough goal, no possible chance.

From the re-start Slough made tracks for the Maidenhead goal, and Care handled the ball in the penalty area, bus the resultant kick was sent high over the bar by Sherwood. Slough made several attempts to reduce the deficit against them, and a few minutes from the interval a fine run and centre from Morgan was snapped up by Fulford who shot first-time for goal. The ball hit an upright and glanced off into the net, a somewhat lucky goal.

Half-time arrived with Maidenhead leading-2-1.

The second-half was not nearly so interesting as the first, both sides tiring considerably. The chief items of interest on the Maidenhead side were two good bits of work by Pearce, who on both occasions was left with only the goalkeeper to beat, and each time shot straight
at Bruton, who cleared.

Slough equalised as a result of some good work by Morgan. A grand run up the field, and a shot from him gave Linton a lot of trouble, and he did not properly get the shot away, and Sherwood
rushed up and had no difficulty in scoring the equalising goal.

No further scoring took place and the game ended with the score 2-2.