Slough 3 St. Albans City 1
Saturday 27th December 1941
York Road, Maidenhead
The Citizens' officials had great difficulties in raising a team for their Herts and Middlesex League fixture with Slough, at Maidenhead, on Saturday. L. Hall was absent owing to work, T. Robinson and J. Richardson were not available, while Pipe could not make the journey owing to transport difficulties. Even with the help of five members of the South Lancs Regiment – Reid, Wright, Kinnard, McCoy and Jones—the Citizens had only ten men when they reached the ground, where they were provided with a “sub” T Brown, who played at outside-left and scored for St. Albans during the first half. They retained the lead until the closing stages, when they were handicapped by injuries to Reid and Crossley, and Slough put on three goals in quick succession.
It was a bright encounter, keenly contested in such excellent spirit that Mr. S, Wakeling, a linesman, who took charge in the absence of the officially-appointed referee, had an easy task. Once St. Albans settled down they displayed the better combination, and with a little more forcefulness in front of goal would, no doubt, have been in a strong position before the defence became unsettled by injuries.
A RELIABLE PIVOT.
The half-back line was the mainstay of the side, Wright was a very reliable pivot. He positioned himself with skill, tackled powerfully, used his head to advantage and cleared effectively. Kirkham was again outstanding for his determined interceptions and good constructive work, while Kinnard, at right-half, started many good movements by his well-timed passes.
Leslie Young, an old member of the St. Albans Club now in the R.A.F. and home on leave, revealed considerable skill at inside-left, but had no luck with his shooting. The right wing was, however, responsible for most of the Citizens' attacks. McCoy, making his first appearance at inside-right, displayed good ball control and combined effectively with Saunders who, having recovered from the effects of his ankle injury, returned to his best form. He repeatedly outwitted Chick, showed a fine turn of speed and centred to advantage. The. diminutive Jones was however, almost completely overshadowed by Woodhams a very capable centre-half, and Brown, apart from scoring, was seldom in the picture.
CITIZENS OPEN THE SCORING.
St. Albans' goal came after forty minutes' even play. Wright placed a free-kick to advantage and from McCoy's pass Saunders lifted the ball across the goalmouth for BROWN to steer it past Wakefield. While Slough always shot with the greater power, it was not until Crossley was lamed and Treadaway, a speedy forward. enjoyed a good deal of lattitude in consequence, that the Citizens' goal was in any real danger. Prior to that, both Crossley and Reid played soundly and Powell kept goal in good style.
Second half play was very even for thirty minutes, with the Citizens appearing likely to end their long run of defeats; but then Crossley was hurt and Slough, with their right-wing pair making some sparkling runs, scored three times in the space of twelve minutes.
The equaliser followed a centre from Treadaway which produced a hectic goalmouth scramble that ended with HEWITT shooting hard and low into the bottom corner of the net. Powell, who was unsighted. having no chance to save. St. Albans almost regained the lead as the result of a grand effort by Young. From his pass Jones beat Wakefield with a smashing drive, but the ball hit the post and rebounded into play to be cleared.
A GEM OF OPPORTUNISM.
Ingram, a veteran of Slough's pre-war team, paved the way to his side's second goal. Following a throw-in on the left, he centred. Powell advanced to meet the ball, which swerved away from the goal and out of his reach to Treadaway, who returned it for McBRAE to shoot through from close range. Slough's third goal, which was scored two minutes later, was the best of the day. Treadaway, centred squarely, Wright cleared with a grand header which went to INGRAM, who was standing outside the penalty area. He took the ball on the half-volley and crashed a great drive into the net at lightning speed, with Powell, who was again unsighted, powerless to save. Ingram's effort was a gem of opportunism.
Slough:Wakefield; Kirkby, Chick; Vaughan, Woodhams, Lockhead: Treadaway, McBrae, Hewitt, Ingram, Sturgess.
St. Albans:H.F. Powell; J. Reid, H. Crossley; H. Kinnard, E. Wright, S. Kirkham; W. Saunders, E. McCoy, E. Jones, L. Young, T. Brown.
Referee:Mr. S. Wakeling (Maidenhead).