Davies’ wonder goal from inside his own half lights up dour spectacle

Slough Town 1, Eastbourne Borough 1

Scott Davies’ wonder goal from inside his own half lit up this forgettable fixture, as Slough Town kicked off the new decade with a disappointing home draw with Eastbourne Borough.

Jaded by their busy Christmas and New Year fixture list, the Rebels looked out on their feet by the end of this clash, which neither side really deserved to win. It’s a game that won’t live long in the memory, aside from two stunning goals from Davies and Eastbourne captain Kane Wills.

The home side were only able to name three substitutes for the game, with Dan Roberts missing the game through illness and several others having to play while feeling under the weather. But, despite this, they began reasonably well, with Manny Williams unfortunate not to play in the ever-willing Warren Harris in the seventh minute.

Francis Amartey was then denied by the Eastbourne keeper after robbing Manny Adebowale of possession inside his own half, before a moment of magic from Davies gave the home side a 26th minute lead.

There appeared to be little on when Franco Ravizzoli raced out of his penalty area to clear the ball. Unfortunately for him it fell kindly for Davies, just inside his own half, who took one touch before sending it back over the back-pedalling keeper and into the net on the half-volley.

“He’s probably the one player in the team that technically has that in his locker,” said Underwood.

“He gets a lot of stick because he doesn’t score regularly, but if you want someone with the right technique to smash that back over the keeper’s head, he’s your man.

“It was a great finish.”

However, the hosts were somewhat fortunate to take a 1-0 lead into the break, with Charlie Walker striking the inside of the post in the last minute of the half.

The start to the second half was even and uninteresting until the 57th minute when the Rebels got caught too far upfield.

A simple ball over the top played in Wills who thumped a low shot beyond Jack Turner and into the net from an acute angle.

The draw takes the Rebels back above Dorking into fourth place on 42 points. They’re eight points behind leaders Wealdstone who’ve now suffered two successive defeats.