Last Minute Ivall Goal Earns Slough Win

Despite the heavy rain of the morning, the Dolphin ground at Slough was in capital condition for this tie, which attracted a large attendance, the clubs being old cup tie opponents.

In the first half, Slough seemed greatly bothered by a strong wind, which blew straight across the ground, and quite upset their short passing game. Still, they had as much of the play as their opponents, the combination on both sides being poor.

Both goals had some narrow escapes, Denton once grazing the crossbar for Slough, from a well-placed corner by Summersby, while H. Stanley, the Reading centre, twice shot over the bar with only the custodian to beat.

R. J. Ivall, got in a low swift drive that missed its mark by inches, and from a pass by Wright, Poole dashed between the visiting backs and made for a goal at top speed, but missed a capital chance by dilly-dallying in front of goal until knocked off the ball by Cane.

Several corners fell to either side, but the defence prevailed, although both goals had some very narrow escapes. Towards the close of the first half, H. Stanley sent in a low swift shot that Crocker ran out to, but the forwards were on him before he could get the ball away. He managed to retain possession by falling on it, and with the assistance of the backs succeeded in throwing the leather over the touchline.

Needless to say, this drew forth a cheer and hardly had this died away than Crocker was accorded another for saving a shot from H. Stanley by throwing himself across the goal, steering the ball round the post. The corner was followed by two others, but the third had not been taken when half time was signalled with a clean scoresheet.

The second half was most exciting, first one and then the other having the advantage. From a pass by Masters, Atkinson headed on to the post for Reading while Crocker was on the ground, but fortunately for Slough the ball hit the outside of the post and went behind.

At the other end, R. J. Ivall sent in a smashing shot which went very near its mark, and from another long “punt” by R. J. Ivall, his brother, screwed in a shot which Millard saved. Before he could get the ball away the Slough forwards were on him and there was an exciting scrimmage in the Reading goal. This went in favour of the visitors, who immediately after spoiled a hot attack by an infringement of the offside rule.

From a centre by Wright, Poole failed miserably when he ought to have easily scored, and a low swift drive from the foot of Smith was splendidly saved by Millard. In a last attack by Slough, Stiles handled a shot by Wright within the penalty line, but Millard saved Smith’s shot in the splendid style, and it was not till half a minute from time that the Reading custodian allowed a terrific drive by R. J. Ivall to go over his head into the net and Slough won in sensational style by a goal to love.

Fisher, Walker, R. J. Ivall, and Wright were the pick of Slough, and Millard, Cane, Lunn and Marston were very prominent for Reading.