Narrow Defeat for Ladies 1s........

By Mike Haymonds

SLOUGH Ladies’ six-game unbeaten run was ended by a single-goal defeat by Bowdon Hightown which could have been avoided if they had taken their chances.

The winning goal, unlike so often in the past, was not scored by veteran Tina Cullen, who this time set up Kayleigh Humphries. Both defences were solid with only three penalty corners (two for Slough) being won.

The visitors looked the more dangerous side in the first half when they were quicker to the ball and harried Slough who turned over possession too readily.

Slough improved after the interval but, after a spell of domination, they were hit by the sucker punch which proved crucial. Slough skipper Fiona Greenham said: “It was disappointing to lose after such a good run of results. Credit to Hightown, they took their chance and so deserved to win. However, our performance can give us the confidence to do well in the derby at Reading on Sunday.”

The defeat drops Slough from first to fourth, two points behind new leaders Canterbury, one behind Leicester and with an inferior goal difference to Birmingham University.

Bowdon had an early chance when Humphreys’ backhand shot was off target before Slough won their first corner with Chloe Strong’s shot fired in too high. A chance then fell to Cullen but her deflection of a right-wing cross was wide and, at Slough’s second corner, no player got a touch to Strong’s strike towards a post.

The half ended with Cullen again off target. Hannah Bowe was denied by Bowdon keeper Kirsty Mackay and Humphries missed from close range.
Bowe was denied a ‘goal’ when the ball was scrambled into the net but was adjudged to have been propelled with the back of the stick.

In the 59th minute, after a sustained period of possession for Slough, Humphreys made up for her earlier misses when she beat Slough keeper becky duggan by deflecting a Cullen cross past her at head-height. In the final stages a cross to Cullen on the far post saw her uncharacteristically steer her shot wide before Slough successfully defended the visitors’ only corner.

SLOUGH: Duggan, Nicholson, Strong, Coulson, Bell, Cunningham, Greenham, Bowe, Scott, Archer, Bevan. Subs: Ball, Ilkei. Not used: Daniels, Filochowski.