Finishing touch proves winner

by Mike Haymonds 20 Nov 2009

EHL Premier
Slough 3 Canterbury 2

SLOUGH Ladies returned to winning ways with a deserved 3-2 win over a Canterbury team which has the best record against them of all the Premier clubs.

Despite the difficult conditions of heavy rain and a strong wind both sides contributed to a competitive game with Slough’s finishing, on this occasion, proving superior.

The win lifted Slough back into the third place they lost last week, eight points behind Leicester and five behind Reading.

Slough’s coach Mike Williamson said: “It was the win we needed to get back on track after last week’s defeat by Leicester.

“We had the better opening half and adapted to cope with Canterbury’s tactic of pushing players high."

“In the second half we didn’t let much get behind us."

“They may have had more possession in the second half but we restricted them to very few chances.”

Slough made a dream start, opening the scoring in the third minute when a neat interpassing move ended with South African Lauren Penny netting from close range.

Slough created more chances than the visitors in the first half but, from their two penalty corners, the first did not produce a shot whilst the second saw Scottish keeper Abi Walker make an excellent save and Lucy Barnes cleared the danger.

After 17 minutes Canterbury equalised when Natalie Seymour picked up a clearance from defence and crossed to Natalie Goldring, who passed for Sarah Kerly, the daughter of GB Olympic legend Sean Kerly, to score.

In the 29th minute Slough regained the lead when a right-wing cross by Nicola White was fired home by Ashleigh Ball.

In the 42nd minute Canterbury’s first penalty corner led to a dramatic third goal for Slough when the visitor’s injection missed all the awaiting attackers.

Skipper Fiona Greenham launched a counter-attack through White and Penny with Ball bundling the ball over the line.

Six minutes later Goldring reduced the deficit for Canterbury but Slough finished the stronger.

A shot by White was kept out by a diving stick save by Walker and Slough’s only second half corner was charged down by Jen Wilson.

Two late chances saw Penny break clear only to be dispossessed by Mel Clewlow and White’s shot after a dribble into the D was intercepted by a defender.

SLOUGH: Duggan; Nicholson, Strong, Coulson, Bell; White, Greenham, Ball; Bevan, Penny, Lubbock. Sub: Shanahan. Not used: Cox, Filochowski (gk).

Copy supplied to Slough Express & Slough Observer 20/11/09