Slough Hold Maidenhead To Draw

The return game took place at Maidenhead on Boxing Day, when there must have been 4000 spectators present. The injury to Boreham on Christmas Day necessitated a change in the home team, L.H.Pakenham-Walsh took the centre-half berth and A.Richens came in at right-half.

Slough were not satisfied with their team's display at the Dolphin, and they dropped North and Morris. R.Payne took North's place, Wells went outside left, and Morgan came in at inside left.

Glover won the toss for Slough, and set Maidenhead to defend the Bell Street goal. Play opened at a fast pace, but Maidenhead were the more aggressive side, and but for Bruce they might have taken an early lead, for the Slough custodian saved splendidly from Pakenham-Walsh, Rose and Copas.

Slough kept threatening danger, but the only real shot Richens had to deal with was a long one from Snow, though Stott narrowly missed with a hard drive over the bar, and Harmon was given offside in a dangerous-looking raid in which Glover and Wells were prominent.

In further pressure by the home side, Copas got in a hard low shot which sailed past the posts, and from a corner-kick Poole charged down a shot from Simmons, and Pakenham-Walsh sent by. Later the latter player topped the bar with a very hard drive, and Hewitt narrowly missed when Walsh and Copas made an opening.

A dangerous break away by Glover, produced a centre which Stott headed by in a good attempt to score. Maidenhead had hard lines when Hewitt raced clear of Evans, and looked a sure scorer til Bruce smothered the shot; the ball went to Gibbins, who quickly returned it to goal, but Evans headed clear from the goal-line.

In a Slough raid Taylor fouled Stott about a yard outside the penalty area, but Snow sent the free-kick over the bar. The Slough goal had another escape when Hewitt almost got through and was robbed by Snow, but at 30 minutes Evans was unsuccessful in attempting a clearance and Hewitt gained possession to give Maidenhead the lead.

A minute or two later Copas got right through, but Evans ran up behind and forced the home captain to shoot wide. Slough responded with two corners, and Richens twice saved well from Wells. Simmonds missed an easy chance of adding to Maidenhead's score by shooting wildly when Rose had made a nice opening. At the interval Maidenhead led by a goal to nil.

Slough drew level in the first minute of the second half. Harmon put the ball across, and Wells put a short pass to Morgan, who tapped the ball past Richens. Slough took heart after this and Maidenhead were subjected to a heavy pressure, though they managed to get in several raids in the early part of the half. On one occasion Copas got right through and shot over and Taylor worked up the field only to see Bruce save his shot.

Glover was very prominent for Slough, and his many centres always spelt danger, but fortunately Richens was in great form and frequently saved shots from Stott.

The Maidenhead backs and halves also defended well, and Slough were kept from scoring again.

Maidenhead had a fine chance to win the game in the last minute when Bruce, after running out to stop Copas, was penalised for carrying outside the area. Pakenham-Walsh put in a splendid free-kick which Bruce saved, and a general melee ensued which was ended by the call of time.