Early bath for Rebels

Slough's FA Cup dreams were dashed at the first hurdle on Sunday, simply because Bath had a deadly marksman and they didn't.

For there was little else to choose between the GM Vauxhall Conference League strugglers and the gallant Rebels - but Paul Bodin grabbed a well- taken hat-trick to earn his side a First Round tie at Southern League Chelmsford City.

"I don't think there was two goals' difference between the teams" said disappointed Slough manager Alan Davies., "but we gave them too much room and they took full advantage. We should have had two penalties, but I thought we played quite well.....although we could have put them under more pressure.

It wasn't a happy dressing room afterwards, but in no way did we disgrace ourselves." Davies admitted Gary Dodd's presence in midfield was missed because, as expected, he was switched to partner Jeff Bateman in the back four because of Tony Knight's suspension.

Dodd did well in his unaccustomed role, but City's engine room certainly gave their front men better service than their Slough counterparts. And the situation wasn't helped with inspirational skipper Keith White banned too, so Gary Woodcraft filled the left-back spot.

Despite Bristol Rovers playing a Division Three game on the same ground only 24 hours earlier, the pitch was in great nick and Bath's biggest crowd of the season enjoyed bright, sunny conditions early on.

But both sides' overwhelming anxiety not to give anything away stifled any ideas or invention in the first quarter. Rebels 'keeper Trevor Bunting did well to grab a header from Payne on the line, while Jimmy Brown blazed wide from 20 yards as the teams struggled to settle down and assume any control.

Wanklyn's tigerish midfield battle with Williams was a feature of proceedings from the start though, and the Slough man later got booked for retaliation after an early clash left him needing lengthy treatment.

And Wanklyn certainly felt hard done by when his shot appeared to hit the Bath's schemer's hand in the box, but his vehement penalty appeal was waved away.

Bath, seeking only their fourth win in 18 games this season, capitalised on their good fortune after 32 minutes. Left winger Payne posed a threat all afternoon and when Bateman headed clear from him, Bodin chested down and volleyed a clinical 25-yard drive past an unsighted Bunting.

A carbon copy effort from Payne went inches wide, but Slough, with Stanley impressive on the right flank, forced several corners and were a shade unlucky to be behind at the interval

However, the tie was effectively decided in the first five minutes after the restart. Waites laid back for Kenny Wilson to put in a curling chip over Bond in the Bath goal, but his cracking effort came back off the bar.

And again, City rode their luck and doubled their lead in the 49th minute. The Rebels defence was guilty of slack marking though, as Payne crossed for Bodin, for, although the leading scorer miskicked, he still had time to poke the ball home from five yards.

Slough certainly didn't give up the ghost, yet still lacked real penetration in the final third of the field. Waites curled a free-kick just wide from outside the box after Bateman was fouled suspiciously close to the 18-yard line, who had troubled the home defence more than once, before Stanley was surprisingly subbed for Jacobs.

But the sub wasn't far from putting the Rebels back in the game within a minute of his arrival. MacMahon chipped through and as the 'keeper and Jacobs went for the ball, only Palmer's last-ditch challenge cleared the danger.

The Rebels had to work far harder to create openings, while the ball-winning of Williams and the distribution of Pratt got the ball up the other end quicker. And Bath's more economical approach paid dividends with a clinching goal in the 72nd minute. Trevor Bunting had had to have attention after diving at Cunningham's feet and suffering studs in his sides for his pains but his defence, alone, was at fault for the decisive strike.

This time ,Cunningham flicked through for Bodin, who found himself in acres of space just inside the penalty area , and he lobbed over the helpless 'keeper for his 10th goal of the season. MacMahon and Wanklyn tried their luck from distance and Bond thwarted both Brown and Wilson with a super double save before the Rebels netted a memorable consolation goal eight minutes from time.

Wanklyn freed Wilson on the left and the winger's pinpoint cross was met by a flying header from Jimmy Brown, which sailed over the 'keeper into the net. Sadly though, it was all too late, as a creditable Rebels' performance was undermined by slipshod defensive work and a marked lack of punch around their opponents' goal.