Slough Town travel to Bath City after picking up point against Farnborough

Josh Jackman with Scott Davies (left) and Neil Baker (right). Photo: Slough Town/George Beck

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Slough Town travel to Bath City this evening (Tuesday) looking to edge themselves further clear of the bottom four in the National League South, after claiming a decent point at home to a Farnborough side now managed by Slough’s former joint manager Neil Baker.

The Rebels trailed to a header from Farnborough’s Alfie Pavey at the break, but they hit back in the second half through a brilliant piece of skill and finish from Slavi Spasov.

The 1-1 draw - which both managers said was fair - keeps Scott Davies’ side 11 points clear of the drop zone with only nine matches to play now, starting against the Romans at Twerton Park this evening (Tuesday).

Like Slough, Bath haven’t had the best of league seasons and sit a place - and two points - behind the Rebels heading into tonight’s fixture. Bath have also been grinding out the points of late to keep their noses out of trouble. On Saturday they played out a goalless draw at Weston-Super-Mare to stay nine points above St Albans City in 21st place.

Both teams will be keen for a couple more wins just to kill off any lingering concerns of relegation.

Wins have been hard to come by for the Rebels of late, but they have shown in their past couple of matches a willingness to roll up their sleeves and fight for every point available.

They dominated the ball and created some good opportunities through Josh Jackman and Johnny Goddard in the early stages of Saturday’s home game, however they fell behind in the 37th minute when MacArthur picked out Pavey in the middle and he headed home. The Rebels had been guilty of giving up possession far too easily in the build-up.

Spasov thought he had a good claim for a penalty in the dying moments of the half when he appeared to be taken down in the box, but the referee waved away his appeals.

The Rebels did though manage to capitalise on a strong start to the second half. After Guy Hollis’s low strike was saved by former Rebel Jack Turner in the 46th minute, the home side drew level in the 53rd minute thanks to a wonderful finish from Spasov.

Picking the ball up on the right side of the area, Spasov cut back inside his marker before sweeping the ball into the far corner left-footed.

The game was finely poised in the final quarter and both teams had chances to win it, Charlie Horlock deflecting the ball behind brilliantly after Pavey was sent through one-on-one in the 81st minute.

After the game, Farnborough boss Neil Baker posted: “Great to be back at Slough Town today and to see so many friendly faces. Will never forget our time there and the wonderful people we met.

“Great things happening behind the scenes. As for the game, draw probably felt right.”

Before the game Baker and Davies presented club captain Josh Jackman with a accolade honouring his 300 appearances for the club. Jackman has been a stalwart defender for both managers.

Speaking to Connor McNeish for sloughtownfc.net after the game, Davies said: “First half I thought we were really good. I thought we were really unlucky not to get a penalty, possibly two.

“We found ourselves behind, arguably against the run of play maybe. We had the lion’s share of territory and possession, and I thought we looked a real threat.

“David Ogbonna from minute one to minute 90 was absolutely superb.

“The goal we conceded was really disappointing. David has slipped the lad in accidently. We didn’t recover quickly enough and then we lose a header at the back post. But overall, I thought we defended really well. They only got in on one other occasion in the second half.

“I thought the first 20/25 minutes of the second half we were on the front foot, and I thought we deservedly got our equaliser. It was a great goal. Slavi in those situations is really good, a little foot roll and he’s then found the opposite middle, top corner. Overall, we take a point which is probably a fair result in the end.”