Mike Haymonds reports on Slough Ladies March 28

Slazenger EHL Premier
Slough (1) 2 Leicester (0) 1

SLOUGH Ladies finished their league season with an impressive win, ending Leicester’s hopes of the runners-up spot and a place in Europe next year.

Slough’s win, their ninth of the season, meant they finished in fifth place, their worst position for three years, and 22 points behind the league champions Bowdon Hightown, who lost their 100 per cent record in a 3-1 defeat by Canterbury.

Slough coach Aussie Todd Williams said: “We had three main aims and the team responded superbly.

First was to absorb pressure, but not negatively, exploiting the opportunities to counter-attack. Secondly to work on our positional relationships, particularly our left flank, from where the second goal came, and thirdly to play higher in midfield and up front.to deny them space in midfield.”

Slough made a dream start in the sixth minute when Alex Scott struck home a cross from Lauren Penny and they won their only penalty corner soon after. However, Ashleigh Ball’s strike was deflected out by a defender and Slough failed to create any more chances for the rest of the first half.

Leicester won five corners but Slough keeper Sarah Ellis was in inspired form, making saves from the first four.

The visitors earned two more set pieces but the first was feebly hit wide and Ellis saved the next with her glove.

Slough’s first chance since their goal fell to Penny who failed to connect with a Hannah Bowe shot on goal.

Hannah Coulson, playing in an unfamiliar striker role, was denied by the visitors’ keeper Clare Schulze in a one-on-one situation.

Slough continued to threaten with a shot on the turn by Scott deflected out by Schulze, who then repeated the save from a reverse-stick effort by Penny.

Following an interception by Penny her run on goal was halted by Schulze but the South African increased Slough’s lead in the 66th minute by converting a cross from Ball.

In the final minute another glove save by Ellis at Leicester’s eighth corner was penalised as dangerous and Kerry Williams gave them a consolation from the penalty spot.

Slough skipper Fiona Greenham said: “We knew what we had to do and we played pretty well, soaking up their pressure in the first half and coming on more strongly in the second.”

Looking back over the season she added: “It’s been a steep learning curve.

Our limited numbers and hence the lack of competition for places has made it difficult.”

SLOUGH: Ellis, Harte, Cox, Greenham, Bell, Nicholson, Bowe, Ball, Penny, Coulson, Scott. Subs not used: Wimshurst, Filochowski.
Slough will now take a two-week break before resuming training for the European Club Champions Cup in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Holland, at the end of May.

Slough Express