Rebels awarded three points after controversial Bath City abandonment

Slough Town have been awarded three points following the controversial abandonment of their home fixture against play-off rivals Bath City.

The Rebels had been leading their National League South opposition 4-2 when a Slough supporter fell ill in the stands and required medical treatment.

The game was initially halted, with the players remaining on the field, before being suspended by the referee – with the players returning to their changing rooms.

An announcement to the 1,400 fans inside Arbour Park soon followed which declared the match had been abandoned after 72 minutes.

Speaking afterwards, Slough Town player/manager Scott Davies said he felt ‘sick’ over the decision to call the game off.

He said that with the supporter seemingly recovering well, his side had been keen to resume play but opposition manager, Jerry Gill, had raised concerns over player welfare.

In an interview released after the game by Bath City, Gill said: “It started getting to a point where your players welfare comes into play because they’re prone to injury.

“The referee was in touch with the FA and in the end he decided to call the game off. We have to respect that decision.”

A statement was released by the National League on Wednesday confirming Slough have been awarded the victory.

The statement said: “Following action being taken by the Football Association against Bath City, the League has now determined the outcome of the abandonment from the National League South fixture on March 2.

“It has been decided that the game is not to be replayed, and the match has been awarded to Slough Town in accordance with League rules.

“Slough were 4-2 in front when a medical emergency affecting a supporter occurred during the second half of the match at Arbour Park last month.

“Tables will be updated accordingly. Regulations state that while the home club are awarded three points, goals for and against are not to be added.”

The decision means Slough will now have 61 points and remain eight points off the playoff places with three games remaining.

Davies said the National League deserved credit for coming to the right decision but told the Express the situation had taken a mental toll on his squad.

He said: “The timing of it could have been a lot better as it would have given the lads a spring in the step when we needed it.

“Its really de-railed the group mentally, there’s been a lot of questions asked about what’s happening.

“I truly believe that if that game had finished and we ended up with three points we would’ve ended up in the playoffs.

“It completely sucked the life out of the boys and the club itself. Even the supporters and the people that work at the club. We’re not going to use that as an excuse.

“We know we should’ve been better over the past few weeks but it has been very difficult to deal with those circumstances.”

Slough picked up a point in testing conditions away at second-placed Chelmsford City with an 89th minute equaliser by loanee Trae Cook-Appiah cancelling out George Alexander’s

opener for the hosts.

But Davies conceded that a succession of draws have ultimately cost his side in their chase for an unlikely play-off spot.

“In the grand scheme of things a point away at second in the league is good but it wasn’t enough and we knew before the game we had to get three points to try and keep our slim chance of the play-offs alive.

“The thing for us is we’ve lost two games in the last 13 which is good going in any league.

“The problem is we’ve drawn five out of our last seven.

“For us its been a good season but there’s a lot of bodies in there that are hugely disappointed with not being able to get over the line in the play-offs.”

Slough were due to play away at Taunton Town on Thursday evening.