Old habits die hard

Slough Town

Slough Town

2
West (13, pen), Bushay (58)
Bromsgrove Rovers

Bromsgrove Rovers

3
Crisp (8), Radburn (12), Gaunt (45)
League Attendance: 931 Ansil Bushay
Slough were undone by three first-half Bromsgrove strikes on another crazy afternoon at Wexham Park.

Rebels' fans have now seen a remarkable 31 goals in six league games at the Park, but Saturday's result means half those games have ended in defeat for Dave Russell's men.

After keeping a clean sheet against Dagenham the previous Monday, Slough reverted to old habits against second-placed Rovers, allowing goals from Mark Crisp, Colin Radburn and Craig Gaunt before the interval.

Strikes from Mark West and Ansil Bushay kept Slough in the hunt, but even a spirited second half comeback wasn't enough to win them a share of the points.

With Mark Pye and David Lay suspended, and Graham Bressington still not fit, Russell was forced to pull West into midfield to form an unlikely partnership with Barry Rake, which did not help Slough over the first 45 minutes.

With no steadying influence in the Rebels' midfield, Bromsgrove always looked dangerous coming forward, although their first goal after eight minutes came against the run of play.
Latching onto a wayward Mark Fiore pass, Crisp played the ball out to Stuart Randall on the left, who looped his cross over Lee Harvey to where Crisp was waiting to head home his sixth goal of the season.

Worse was to come four minutes later when Colin Radburn beat the offside trap and drilled a low shot past Trevor Bunting to make it 2-0.

But within a minute Slough were right back in it when Rake was brought down by Gaunt in the box and referee Mr Armstrong, after consulting his linesman, pointed to the spot.
West sent Chris Taylor the wrong way to bag his eighth of the season.

Both sides created chances before the interval, but it was Bunting in particular who was in the wars. Three minutes after receiving lengthy treatment for to his ankle, the veteran keeper was bundled into the net by Radburn, but somehow managed to scoop the ball clear. No foul was given.

Bunting's mobility was clearly restricted, and when Crisp's injury-time cross landed in the six yard box, both Dale and Gaunt had chances to stab it home, Gaunt eventually obliging.

It was a tough blow for a Slough side ready to go into the interval only one goal behind.

And when they did return from the dressing room, it was with substitute Steve Bateman wearing the No.1 shirt, who went on to keep a clean sheet despite one or two unconventional moments.

The Rebels began the second half in a hurry, and after going close on two occasions, eventually got their reward on 58 minutes.

Ross Pickett's superb flick-on set free Ansil Bushay, who after tapping the ball under the onrushing Taylor, had time to compose himself and stroke the ball into the empty net.

The goal sparked a furious period of pressure from Slough, inspired by a battling midfield performance from Barry Rake, with Garfield Blackman, Bushay and Pickett all going close.

In a rousing final five minutes, Blackman had a chance to square things up but placed his shot wide. And with just three minutes to go, Bushay had a similar chance and also opted for placement instead power, and could only force a brilliant save from Taylor.

Bromsgrove Rovers Lineup

Rebels

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