Slough lose opening derby

by Mike Haymonds (24.9.2009)

EHL Premier
Slough 1 Reading 3

SLOUGH LADIES came off second-best in their opening day’s derby with newly-promoted Reading, a game which, disappointingly, never reached a high quality and entertainment level.

Slough were missing six players, either injured or not available, while Reading had only two of their star signings - Alex Danson and Jo Ellis.

Slough enjoyed some ascendancy at the beginning and end of the game, winning ten penalty corners in all and converting only one, but they created few chances from open play.

Once they get back to full strength Reading are likely to be serious title contenders.

Slough skipper Fiona Greenham was not disheartened by the defeat. “Even without five likely starting players we showed we are able to compete (with a fancied team) and, with more rub of the green, it could have been closer.”

Slough made a lively start, winning two penalty corners, but Jane Smith’s strikes were charged down while Reading squandered an early corner and then saw Claire Kerr give away possession from a promising position.

Reading opened the scoring in the 19th minute when former Slough player Becky Odlin scored with a close range deflection but Slough equalised four minutes later through Ashleigh Ball, who forced the ball home from a broken-down corner.

Reading then took control but failed to convert five more corners before the break.

The visitors struck in the first minute of the second half when Vicky Bryant took advantage of lax Slough defending to restore the lead and the two sides then traded penalty corners – without success.

Slough’s belated switch from direct strikes produced closer efforts but Nicola White was unable to connect with two Smith forward passes and keeper Kate Filochowski had to come to Slough’s rescue twice.

But after 56 minutes she was beaten to a right-wing cross by Bryant, who steered the ball home.

Slough staged a late rally but Smith was twice denied by the visitors’ keeper Mel Insall who also saved a corner effort by Ball.

An undistinguished game became increasingly scrappy and ended with both teams a player light after Reading’s Odlin received a second yellow card and Ball was sin-binned for the final two minutes after falling foul of the new self-pass rule.

SLOUGH: Filochowski, Coulson, Harte, Greenham, Bell, Nicholson, J Smith, Ball, Bevan, White, Penny. Sub: Lubbock.