Match day

Team logo
Welling United (H)
Sat Apr 20
15:00

Match day

Team logo
Welling United (H)
Sat Apr 20 15:00
The Vanarama National League South
10th
67pts

Dave Russell hits Slough winner

Slough Town

Slough Town

2
Friend (pen 36), Russell (51)
Wycombe Wanderers

Wycombe Wanderers

1
Kennedy (pen 25)
League Dave Russell
DAVE RUSSELL generally saves up something special for the "Blues", but nothing better than his vital winner in the second half of this Isthmian League clash.

Collecting the ball just inside the Wycombe half, Slough's leading scorer beat two defenders and struck a magnificent shot that flew into the net.

This was virtually the only outstanding incident in a match that was riddled with mistakes by both the players and officials - some of the decisions of the referee and his linesmen were questionable - and Wycombe suffered the unusual ignominy of having two players, Steve Long and Steve Hardwick, cautioned.

The controversy began in the 14th minute when Paul Lee, collecting a through ball from Peter Feely, beat Lester with a neat shot from close in. Slough's joy was short lived as Mr Cotton disallowed the goal then ten minutes later gave a penalty to Wycombe, which upset Slough.

As the ball was crossed from the Wycombe left Richard Teale rose amongst a crowded goalmouth and appeared to punch the centre away. Mr Cotton immediately awarded a penalty and Howard Kennedy put the ball past Teale with little fuss.

Slough found this a body blow and heads seemed to drop as Wycombe set about the home defence with a vengeance. Paul Miles hit the home post with the Slough players’ minds presumably elsewhere as they watched as if hypnotised, until Young hacked the ball away.

In the 36th minute the "Rebels" equalised, and again it was a penalty decision that provided the goal. Paul Lee, bursting through the defence, was sandwiched by Mead and Hardwick, and Lee was comprehensively floored. Mr Cotton had no alternative than to award a spot kick, and Barrie Friend shot past Lester with a minimum of fuss.

The early goal in the second half gave Slough a lift but they were still too disjointed and Wycombe looked quite able to score at least another as they had the home team in trouble at the back. Powell missed an easy chance in the 55th minute with the goal at his mercy.

Slough should have scored a third when Lester came out to foil Russell, the loose ball rolling to Metcalfe who blasted the ball straight back to hit the goalkeeper. Tony Price replaced Long for Wycombe looking for all the world like a non-league Peter Barnes as he turned the Slough defenders this way and that - all to no avail.

Steve Hardwick joined Long in the referee’s book when he tripped Lee just outside the area, but even with Slough looking confident at the end, the final whistle was received with relief by Slough. Slough now have an even chance of avoiding the drop to Division 1.

Wycombe Wanderers Lineup

Lester, Birdseye, Eaton, Mead, Hardwick, Jacobs, Scott, Miles, Powell, Kennedy, Long (Price).

Rebels

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