Slough loss record haunts Rebels

Slough Town were left still seeking their first win under new boss Alan Davies, as they were grounded by Farnborough's late winner on Saturday at Wexham Park.

Twice the Rebels battled back from behind in the first half of this Vauxhall-Opel League, Premier Division clash but were then condemned to another defeat when Robin Gosnell struck for high flying Farnborough in the 86th minute.

This was Slough's third successive defeat under Davies but more dramatically the 11th consecutive league game in which they have failed to conjure up a win.

And it certainly spells the form of a side now finding themselves in a relegation battle just two months after they had come within a whisker of reaching the FA Cup third round.

Realistically Slough are too good a side to be languishing near the foot of the table but once again they lost a match they could have won and they now find themselves in trouble.

Title chasing Farnborough were a useful outfit but everything might have been so different had their highly controversial third minute opening goal been disallowed as it should have been.

Rebels' goalkeeper Trevor Bunting, safely caught a corner and went for a quick clearance. However, the outstretched boot of Brian Broome charged down Bunting's kick and the ball fell for Tony Carter to ram it home from close range.

The Slough players looked on in total amazement as referee Mr. Higginson allowed the goal to stand and this started an afternoon of erratic and finicky refereeing from the Northwood official.

Slough boss Davies was also far from happy with the referee over Farnborough's first goal and said after the match: “He must be the only referee who would have ever given it. There is no way if a player puts a foot up to the goalkeeper and gets the ball it can be a goal. No way was it a goal. If players are told to play within the rules of the game but referees' don't do the same what hope have we got. “

Davies went on: "Before every game we tell the players not to talk back to officials over decisions, but when referees make a decision like that one then players are bound to say something at the end of the day."

Looking back at the game Davies said: "Overall I am not too disappointed. We were bound to be under pressure in the second half playing against the wind but we kept on battling. “It’s not the way I would have liked to have started with three defeats but, they have come against good sides and at least we've matched them. If the defeats had been against poor sides then that's the time to worry but that has not been the case," added Davies.

The return of Jeff Bateman to the heart of the Rebels' defence gave them a much more solid and composed look while Derek Harris had recovered from his facial injury to play at left back.

Farnborough’s early controversial goal left the Rebels shell-shocked but they quickly bounced back and on 14 minutes were back in the match. Kenny Wilson curled in a free kick from the left to the far post and there was Bateman to firmly meet the ball and score a rare headed goal.

Wilson then went close with a flying header and after 17 minutes a 35-yard Keith White free kick had Les Cleevely scrambling to save.

But Slough's recent trend in giving away sloppy goals again struck on 22 minutes when they failed to clear Keith Baker's free kick and Jones battled through to shoot low past Bunting.

The gale force wind made life difficult for both sides but it was Mr. Higginson who again became the centre of attention on 46 minutes when, he gave Slough a doubtful penalty after Cleevely was adjudged to have brought White down on the edge of the penalty area. Once again Harris displayed a cool head from the spot and crashed the penalty high into the net and the Rebels were again back in business.

However, in the second half Slough seemed to lose their way and, apart from White, the midfield lacked the penetration and drive to give them the command they wanted.

Jimmy Jacobs was unlucky not to get a free kick when he was tripped by Baker just outside the penalty area after being put through by White. Jacobs obvious displeasure then resulted in him being booked for dissent and it was the same player who came closest to putting Slough ahead on 69 minutes.

Again he was put through and this time it took a fine save from Cleevely to keep his shot out. And the Farnborough 'keeper then really showed his worth when he recovered to foil Jimmy Brown from the rebound.

However, slowly Farnborough started to show their league position and were unlucky when Mark Turkington’s cracking shot smashed the post.

After 80 minutes Bateman came to the rescue when he headed off the line from Jimmy Bolton and then, with four minutes left came Farnborough's winner.

Broome was allowed to get clear by Jacobs on the left and he found Robin Gosnell who, clinically shot past Bunting, from some 15 yards out.

And it could have been even worse for Slough when in the last seconds Bolton's thunderous 25-yard shot flew off the crossbar.