Weakened Slough lose crucial game at Hightown

by Mike Haymonds

Slough dropped two places to fifth, the lowest qualifying position for the play-offs, while Bowdon moved up to fourth and Reading’s 4-3 win over Birmingham University lifted them to third.

One point covers third to fifth with Slough facing difficult remaining games against Reading and leaders Leicester.

Slough were missing four key players – Sam Archer, Lauren Penny, Alex Scott and Chloe Strong – and, as a result, their forward line lacked firepower.

Their stand-in captain Fiona Greenham said: “Considering they had more players the match was reasonably even and we achieved a fair number of circle penetrations. “Defensively, we contained them and both our defence and midfield played well.”

During an evenly-contested passage of play early on Slough’s Ashleigh Ball hit a post but Bowdon scored first in the 13th minute when Sally Walton converted their first penalty corner with a direct strike which flew in off keeper Becky Duggan’s glove.

Slough’s build-up play promised more than it delivered as they were short of numbers when they reached the final third. Bowdon’s winner with five minutes left came from their last corner when Tina Cullen despatched the rebound from a Duggan save

SLOUGH: Duggan, Cunningham, Nicholson, Coulson, Bowe, White, Greenham, Bell, Shanahan, Bevan, Ball. Subs: Ilkei, Filochowski