Another one they should have won

Don't expect Slough to play too much pretty football in the next two or three months. For manager Alan Davies says his Rebels will be concentrating on winning first and entertaining second, in a bid to revive their faltering championship ambitions.

"Between now and the end of the season, the main priority is not to lose. I don't care how we win the points" he said, after his side lost another game they should have won comfortably. "You don't win anything by being too nice and we're looking to play too much football." But although Yeovil have now overtaken the Rebels - and have four games in hand- Davies doesn't think his side are out of serious title contention.

"We're making it very difficult for ourselves" he admitted " and it's going to get harder, because all the teams at the bottom are fighting like hell to stay in the league. So no games will be pushovers. But we've got to believe we can do it."

On Saturday though, not all his players appeared to share that necessary belief, accepting second best too readily to a poor Tooting side. The Rebels should have wrapped the game up by half-time, but squandered three or four good chances. They completely dominated the opening period, but amazingly failed to trouble the home 'keeper at all.

Then they paid the penalty by going behind on the hour after 'keeper Bunting again showed himself vulnerable to high crosses - and a last minute strike completed a miserable afternoon for Slough.

Especially with Yeovil now looking ominously good in the championship hunt, a win was vital and not too much to hope for, against a side struggling in the lower half of the table, and playing their first game for three weeks.

The pitch, passed fit after a morning inspection, was basically a mixture of sand and wet and dry mud. There was some grass here and there, but the inconsistent bounce made life difficult for all and sundry.

With Tony Dennis for off-form Ken Wilson the only change from the side cruelly knocked out of the FA Trophy by Fisher, Slough took charge from the off.

Paul Waites had the first opening, but took too much time after being found in the clear by Dennis. Top scorer David Flint stood out of a pretty ordinary Tooting outfit and Jimmy Jacobs had to kick off the line from him, after Bunting did well to parry his fierce shot.

Then, for Slough, it was Jimmy Brown's turn to fluff a good opportunity.....the sort he's been burying with his eyes closed this season. Jacobs hoofed the ball forward, the 30-goal marksman beat the offside trap and sped into the box, but with only the 'keeper to beat, he wildly missed the target from 10 yards.

Minutes later, Brown looked well-placed after an incisive through ball by Stanley, but as he, 'keeper Taylor and centre-half Iglesias converged on the ball on the edge of the box, the goalie completely miskicked, the outfield players tumbled to the ground and another chance went begging.

Dennis and Brown both failed to dirty the 'keepers hands when further openings arrived, before the teams went in at half-time, unbelievably, still level.

The same disturbing pattern continued in the second period, with Dennis again missing the target, while Brown was denied another go when Stanley's cross floated over the top of him as he waited unmarked in the box.

And the Rebels paid the penalty for their impotency in front of goal in the 60th minute. Bunting couldn't hold Flint's high cross under challenge from Terry Lee, who tapped in from close range when the ball dropped.

The 'keeper usually gets the benefit of the doubt in such situations, but Lee's challenge was deemed fair, while Bunting continues to occasionally lack confidence when going for a high ball. The bustling Flint made his way past a couple of defenders, before Bunting collected from his feet. Then he acquired the horrible Slough disease, contriving to miss when it was easier to score when unmarked in the area.

The Rebels' back four were now looking decidedly ragged, although they were hardly helped by a midfield unit which, although superior in ability, was inferior in its appetite for the task.

Bunting again had to dash out to stop Flint, before Davies made a double substitution to try to rouse his troops, 13 minutes from time. But the arrival of Playle and Wilson didn't add much-needed sparkle or venom to Slough's play, and after Bateman volleyed a free-kick wide of the post,

Tooting added a second. Cutler evaded Dodd's attentions and his pass freed Flint, who waltzed through unchallenged before rolling the ball into the net for his 17th goal of the season.

Home skipper Lewington could have added to the embarrassment two minutes from injury time, but Tooting's first win over Slough in nine league outings was already complete.