Davies optimistic Slough Town can finish season strongly after Worthing win

David Ogbonna provided a hat-trick of assists against Worthing. Photo: George Beck

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Scott Davies doesn't want to jinx it but there's a returning optimism the Rebels can finish the season strongly, and perhaps even improve on their 10th placed finish from last season.

Slough have dragged themselves out of their mid-season slump – when they went 11 matches in the league without a victory to leave themselves too far adrift of the National League South play-off places.

A crucial 1-0 home win over Maidstone United has now been backed up by an even more impressive 4-0 home win over a Worthing side Davies believes is the best technical side in the division.

Those two wins - with a disappointing defeat at St Albans City sandwiched in between - has lifted the Rebels back to within three points of ninth place, and that's the target for the remainder of the season.

The Rebels had a game plan going into this game. Davies said he didn't want the side to be drawn into a straight footballing clash with Worthing, so he asked his players to be aggressive and to press their visitors. This had the desired effect, enabling the hosts to win the ball back high up the field and create many chances.

This enabled Slavi Spasov to score twice, while John Gilbert and Davies - with another inch-perfect free kick - earned Slough a commanding victory.

“From our point of view, it was so pleasing that we came up with some instructions and a game plan for the lads and fair play to them, they carried them out to an absolute tee,” said Davies.

“Not many teams beat Worthing 4-0. You could argue they are the best side in the league, and I think they’re the best footballing team for sure.

“We didn’t really want to play them at their own game. We didn’t want to get into an out and out football match.

“So, we tried to be aggressive in terms of pressing off the ball. To be fair to the lads they were superb on the day and the scoreline could have been even more.

“We wanted to win the ball back as high up the pitch as we could to create 1vs1 and 2vs2 and we had that on many occasions in the first and second half. We found a way to score some really good goals on the day.

“The players who we needed to have good performances at the top end of the pitch all did, they were superb. Our attacking players all turned up to the party and the other pleasing thing was to keep a clean sheet at home. That’s two clean sheets in a row at home which is something we haven’t managed for some time.”

Spasov may have grabbed the headlines with his brace against Worthing, but it was the performance of winger David Ogbonna that pleased Davies the most.

Ogbonna was one of the team's stand out players last season but has found form to be an elusive commodity this season.

With a hat-trick of assists against Worthing he looked like he was back to his devastating best and Davies hopes he'll kick on from here.

“David needed that. he’s been beating himself up a bit lately over his performances,” he said.

“He was so good last year, but we talk to young players and tell them their trajectory is never going to be a straight line in terms of their development

“There will be moments when it stalls and they’re out of form. David has had that lately, but on Saturday it was a return to the old David Ogbonna. For me he was arguably the best player on the pitch. Hopefully he can now kick on from here.”

Saturday's result leaves Slough 16th in the table but only three points off ninth placed Chelmsford City. Weston super Mare in eighth are 12 points clear of them, so a large gap has opened between the top eight and the rest.

“I don’t want to jinx anything of course. We’ve been through a tough time and there’s been a lot of change. We’ve had some suspensions and injuries as well and we’ve felt the disadvantages of having a small squad. But I do believe we can have a positive end to the season. I feel like ninth is still achievable.

“The top eight have got away a little bit, but ninth is where were going to set our aims and if we fall slightly below then so be it. We’ve won two matches that no one would have expected us to win.

“Our biggest frustration is that we can pull a magic result out of the hat at times but then we lose the ones people expect us to win. It is frustrating. But we’ve won two massive home games and it’s been really pleasing.”