Another win and a new coach bring Slough
Ladies cheer
by Mike Haymonds (9 October 2009)
EHL
Premier
Slough 3 Clifton 0
THINGS
are looking up for Slough Ladies as they won for a second
week, fielding a near-full squad, and have found themselves
a coach.
Their win over Clifton who beat them three times last season
was convincing and lifted them to third place, within the
target of a top-five finish necessary to qualify for the end
of season play-offs.
Slough’s new coach Mike Williamson said: “Our
individual skills gave us the edge."
“Our full backs and goalkeeper defended particularly
well and I was pleased how well we kept our concentration
after the lengthy second half stoppage."
“But there’s room to improve the movement on and
off the ball.”
Slough made a strong start with early chances falling to Lauren
Penny, who fired wide when free at the top of the D, then
had a close range deflection turned aside by the visitors’
keeper Gemma Ible before just failing to connect with an Ashleigh
Ball cross.
Clifton’s only threat so far was a shot off target by
Carla Dunnett while, for Slough, a backhand shot by Nicola
White was saved by Ible and Harriet Cunningham flashed an
effort across the face of goal.
The deadlock was broken in the 29th minute when Alex Scott
volleyed home from a goalmouth melee.
After 42 minutes Penny increased Slough’s lead, deflecting
home a Ball cross.
Three minutes later Clifton’s Dunnett suffered a severe
cut to the forehead and a 45-minute stoppage ensued while
she received medical attention and a summoned ambulance failed
to arrive.
On the resumption Clifton won their first penalty corner but
failed to trouble Slough’s debutante keeper Becky Duggan.
They paid for the lapse in the 49th minute when a cross from
Penny was expertly controlled by Louise Bevan, who turned
and beat Ible just inside a post.
At Slough’s second and final corner Chloe Strong’s
strike was charged down by Leah Wilkinson before Ball was
yellow-carded for not retreating at a free hit.
During her absence Slough came under pressure as Clifton won
a series of corners. The first was swept of the line by Strong
while Duggan blocked one with her body and then made a diving
stick save.
Slough had a late chance when, after a classy build-up by
Bevan and Cunningham, White failed to get enough power behind
her shot.
Clifton’s fifth corner saw Duggan again ‘logging’
to block the shot.
SLOUGH: Duggan, Coulson, Strong, Harte, Bell, Scott, Greenham,
Ball, Bevan, White, Penny. Subs: Nicholson, Cunningham, Shanahan,
Lubbock.
SLOUGH
first team’s search for a coach has come to a
successful conclusion.
Mike Williamson took his first training session last
week and was present at Sunday’s 3-0 win over
Clifton.
Williamson was a player for National League club Hounslow
in the 90s and played for Wales before starting his
coaching career at Iver-based club Richings Park.
Whilst a teacher at Desborough School in Maidenhead,
he went on to coach the town’s club when Beijing
Olympian Matt Daly, a Desborough pupil, was beginning
his career.
Williamson then coached Hounslow and Ashford (Middx),
was Wales’ national coach for six years and, most
recently, had three highly successful seasons with Reading,
winning two Premier league and one cup title, as well
as twice reaching the last 8 of the Euro Hockey League.
He is now a teacher at Kingston Grammar School which
is amongst the most successful hockey schools in the
country.
Slough is his first experience of coaching women.
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Copy for Slough Express & Slough Observer 09/10/09
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