Narrow win over Cannock keeps Slough in touch

by Mike Haymonds

SLOUGH Ladies scraped a narrow victory over Cannock which should instead have been comprehensive.
Two up in seven minutes and three ahead and cruising with eight minutes left, Slough gave their opponents hope of an upset by conceding two avoidable goals.
The win lifted them into fourth place, only two points behind new leaders Canterbury who won at Bowdon Hightown and one point behind Leicester who drew with Olton.
Slough skipper Fiona Greenham described it as “a solid performance.”
“It was disappointing to let in those late goals but encouraging that we created many chances.
“In the first half our work rate was good but throughout the game we tended to dwell on the ball too long.”
Slough made the best possible start when Harriet Cunningham beat the visitors’ keeper Sabie Heech with a powerful shot from a tight angle in the second minute.
Five minutes later Lauren Penny increased the lead with a shot on the turn from mid-circle.
Slough were totally dominant for the remainder of the half but could not convert four penalty corners.
Soon after the interval Cannock’s first corner (of two) was fired wide before Alex Scott broke clear but was denied by a glove save.
A long hit into the D from Chloe Strong was deflected on to a post by Greenham and, from Slough’s only corner of the half, Strong’s strike was ruled out for being too high.
In the 55th minute Scott met a left-wing cross to add a third and Slough continued to look untroubled until the 62nd minute, when they ‘switched off,’ allowing Linda Royston to score twice, the first a close range deflection and then a blistering shot from distance.
SLOUGH: Duggan, Nicholson, Strong, Coulson, Bell, Cunningham, Greenham, Bowe, Scott, Penny, Beere. Subs: Ilkei, Daniels. (not used): Filochowski.