Archer hits them quick

A smart piece of opportunist quick thinking by Lee Archer allowed Slough to steal the points in the last minute of a game which matched the drab Bank Holiday Monday weather.

As the match went into its 90th minute, Bryan Hammatt won a free kick on the edge of the box. Up stepped Archer and while Dulwich were organising their defence against his expected pile driver, the wingback coolly hit the hall into a virtually unguarded net. A stunned Dulwich defence could not believe it. Nor could many of the crowd who, not hearing a whistle, were looking at the referee to see if there was a problem.

But no, he walked hack to the centre circle and Slough were ahead. Dulwich were distraught. hut they paid the penalty of not paying attention.

Archer said afterwards: "The referee said if I wanted to take a quick one it was okay. So I did." It was, of course, the highlight of the afternoon. There was little else to cheer, as Slough again dominated most of the play hut had no punch where it mattered.

Sure there were chances missed, but more frustratingly the Rebels failed to clinically open up a defence which looked like it could be taken apart. They persisted in getting involved in complicated moves in tight situations instead of playing it simple.

The first half started fairly evenly with Archer looking the most dangerous off the left side for Slough. But the best chance came for Dulwich after 20 minutes as a loose pass in midfield from Slough gave away possession and the ball bobbled around the Slough goalmouth before Kemp cleared off the line. Slough then picked up with Quail making some good runs but was caught offside offside twice in quick succession.

That was followed by a good build up which ended with a Micky Engwell chip shot going just off target. The half ended with Slough finally getting a shot on target when Simon Line picked up the ball in midfield and had a dig from 25 yards out which forced a diving save from Les Cleevely.

At the start of the second half, Engwell was replaced by Bryan Hammatt, the wing back suffering a re-occurrence of an injury from Saturday.

Slough started the half much brighter and put Dulwich under pressure with a series of attacks. New signing Andy Douglas had a good shot on the turn which just went past the post, then Quail had a diving header saved.

Then from an Archer cross both Quail and Douglas just failed to find the net and shortly afterwards Mark Hall ran the length of the pitch but lost possession near to goal. Dulwich then steadied things and showed they were not out of it as the ball broke for Dave Stevens who would have been through had Graham Kemp not put in a timely tackle. That was followed by Francis Duku heading against the post.

Lee Francis, too, put in a saving tackle from another dangerous Dulwich attack soon afterwards. The game had opened up now with the best chances falling to Slough. With 20 minutes to go, Kemp was replaced by Andrew Deaner and Quail gave way for Dean Samuels. Deaner had an early chance hut put his header wide. Then five minutes later the crowd gasped us the ball went right across the face of the goal from cross by Douglas on the right but Archer and Deaner somehow could not connect.

As the match went into its 90th minute, Bryan Hammatt won a free kick on the edge of the box. Up stepped Archer and while Dulwich were organising their defence against his expected pile driver. the wingback coolly hit the ball into the net. It seemed as if Slough would never find the net. But then came Archer's moment of magic which had the double effect of sending the fans home happy and Dulwich goalkeeper Cleevely near to breaking point and as he left the field he smashed his water bottle in total frustration.

Manager Graham Roberts said: "I'm naturally disappointed with Saturday's result as I felt we played quite well but threw it all away. Against Dulwich, they frustrated with men behind the ball and admitted afterwards they would have been happy with a point. I felt it was right to try five strikers in the second half and I think we deserved the points."