Rebels conquer Romans at Twerton Park to raise hopes of play-off finish
Slough Town’s player manager Scott Davies scored a stunning second half free-kick to send his side hurtling towards victory over Bath City at Twerton Park on Tuesday night.
The Rebels had been leading through Slavi Spasov’s first half strike – his fourth goal in as many games – but the Romans came marching back through Jordan Thomas’ strike early in the second half.
However, the Rebels had one more moment of magic up their sleeve in the 59th minute, when Davies lined up a free kick from well outside the area and bent it over the wall and into the back of Will Buse’s net.
It was a goal worthy of winning any game of football and one which sends a message to Slough’s National League South rivals that there’s a new team on the block capable of challenging for the play-offs.
Just a few weeks ago, such a suggestion would have been laughable, with the Rebels fighting to drag themselves
clear of the league’s drop zone, however, six league wins in nine matches have hauled the side up to 13th in the table.
They’re now only five points off the top seven, with matches in hand on many of the teams above them due to their cup runs earlier in the campaign.
On a cold evening at Twerton Park, the Rebels began well, with Munashe Sundire setting up Leon ChambersParillon in the opening minutes, however, his low effort was pushed away by Buse.
David Ogbonna was a threat throughout, but chances remained at a premium for both teams until Sundire’s low cross in the 37th minute was spilled by Buse only for Spasov to slot home his fourth in as many games.
That goal silenced the home support, but they found their voice again just before the interval when Danny Greenslade rose well to head just over the Rebels crossbar.
The hosts then started the second half well, and deservedly got themselves back on level terms when Oscar Thorn played a clever, disguised ball through for Thomas who guided the ball beyond Dan Lincoln and into the top left-hand corner.
At that stage you’d have probably favoured the home side to go on and get a winner, but any momentum they’d built was punctured just before the hour mark when Davies whipped a free kick beyond Buse to restore the visitors’ advantage.
Both sides had chances in the closing stages, with substitute Nathan Minhas missing an opportunity to take the game away from the hosts, his shot going high and wide after good work from Jeanmal Prosper to turn the ball over and play him in.
The home side then missed a glorious chance to draw level in injurytime when Joe Dandy and Lincoln collided together, and Bath managed to hook the ball goalwards. It seemed certain their net would bulge but Temi Eweka managed to get back and scramble the ball clear, rescuing his teammates’ blushes in the process.
The visitors managed to see out six minutes of stoppage-time for a potentially season-defining victory, one which must mean they’re now looking up the table rather than nervously over their shoulders.
They are back on the road on Saturday when they travel to 20th placed Weymouth however, they’ll go there full of confidence off the back of two crucial league wins this week.