Scott Davies: Arbour Park 'becoming a fortress' for Slough Town

Boss Scott Davies said Arbour Park is becoming a fortress as his Rebels side extended their unbeaten run at home to nine games with a dramatic 2-1 win over Havant & Waterlooville.

Slough looked to be heading for a frustrating draw against the National League South’s bottom side until QPR loanee Steven Bala prodded home in the 90th minute.

The 20-year-old forward could not have hoped for a better way to mark his debut with the Rebels announcing his one-month loan deal just hours before kick-off.

Player/manager Davies told the Express: “It was an awful game of football. I didn’t enjoy watching it myself and I’m sure the fans didn’t either.

“We had some really good chances but I thought for large spells there were a lot of mistakes for both teams. I said to the boys that six weeks ago we probably would have lost that match.

“But we found a way and I think that’s the most important thing. People aren’t going to look back and see Slough 2-1 Havant and think about what the performance might have been like – they’ll just see the result.

“That’s six wins and three draws from our last nine home games which is becoming a fortress.”

Slough’s recent run of home fixtures has included impressive performances over League Two side Grimsby Town and Ebbsfleet United of the National League.

The Rebels dominated possession for large spells of Tuesday night’s encounter but lacked the final ball to capitalise.

Lively winger David Ogbonna had the best of the opening chances as he was slipped in by forward Nathan Minhas only to see his shot smothered by Hawks stopper Ross Worner.

But the visitors had opportunities of their own and Matt Lench and Munashe Sundire were both fortunate after surrendering possession cheaply in their own half.

Kierran Phillips, particularly, should have capitalised on the half hour mark when he blazed over with the goal at his mercy.

Johnny Goddard continued his impressive run of form as he finished cutely in the 35th minute following a slick team move which started with a quick throw from Lench.

The Rebels would have taken a commanding lead into the break were it not for a excellent double save from Worner who denied Sundire and then Minhas with a top reactionary double save on the stroke of half-time.

Slough’s profligacy was soon to prove costly as Billy Busari equalised at the back post after the Rebels failed to clear a low cross.

Frustration crept in throughout the second half with Havant doing their upmost to snuff out the threat of Ogbonna on the right flank.

The Hawks stopper also proved tough to beat with a finger-tip save from a Leon Chambers-Parillon volley in the 54th minute the pick of a fine collection of saves.

The Rebels faithful gathered behind the goal called for a hero and QPR loanee Steven Bala answered the call in the dying moments following excellent work from Mikel Platt.

The second-half substitute showed tremendous strength to roll his man before firing a low effort which Worner could only turn into the path of Bala.

There was still time for Havant defender Joe McNerney to receive his marching orders as the visitors’ frustration seeped out following their late surrender.

Scott Davies added: “There’s 30 matches still left and the sooner we can start accumulating points the better. We’re not panicking, we believe in the squad we’ve got. We lost six out of first seven games and we’ve been on the back foot because of that but since then we’ve lost 3 games in 18 which has shown a remarkable turnaround.

“I believe we’re in a remarkable place and hopefully that will only get better.”