Stunning Rebels free-kick sinks Romans

A stunning 25-yard free-kick from player-manager Davies sent City to a 2-1 defeat against Slough Town this evening at a bitterly cold Twerton Park. Having trailed at the break, Jordan Thomas levelled for City before Davies stepped up to secure the points for the visitors.

The game rarely rose above the mundane during a poor first half. City almost gifted Slough an opening goal on eight minutes when Will Buse lost his footing in the box but recovered to ride several tackles before clearing the danger. Half-chances came and went for Thomas and Cody Cooke but it was in keeping with the game that a 38th minute mistake lead to Slough going ahead. Luke Russe was disposed by Sundire and his goal bound shot was touched in by Spasov. City ended the half with Cooke directing a header into the side netting from a Jordan Dyer flick on.

And they continued to look more lively into the second half with Oscar Thorn beginning to regularly trouble the Rebels down the right flank. On 50 minutes a great pass from Chris Lines saw Thomas’ low shot blocked by keeper Lincoln. However, within six minutes City deservedly equalised with Thorn feeding Thomas who left Bayliss and Sundire chasing shadows before firing past Lincoln. There looked to be only one winner now but it was the visitors who regained the lead four minutes later when Davies struck what turned out to be the decisive goal. City struggled to regain their control after this, although still created enough openings to have rescued at least a point. Scott Wilson pulled a shot wide with Lincoln beaten and Thorn continued to threaten, though his final cross lacked quality on several occasions. With nine minutes left Minhas should have made the game safe but somehow blasted over the bar from six yards out. This seemed to lift City for one final push and in the final minute it looked like they had rescued a point when Lincoln twice failed to deal a high ball into his box but Eweka blocked Cooke’s header on the line and shortly afterwards the points were heading back to Berkshire.