Ladies 1s lose out at Clifton

Hockey
by Mike Haymonds

Investec EHL Premier
Clifton 3 Slough 0

SLOUGH Ladies suffered a fourth defeat, this time to Clifton, and stay just above the relegation play-off place, their lowest ever Premier League position.

Slough coach Royce Waters said: “It was a disappointing result as we had our chances but the crucial decisions did not go our way.”
Slough’s best chances fell to Lauren Penny and Alex Scott. Penny forced a triple save from the Clifton keeper after a well-struck penalty corner and Scott narrowly missed a diving deflection at the far post.

Clifton’s first goal in the fifth minute came from a penalty corner when Slough were judged to have broken the line early and had to defend the repeat set-piece a player short.Emer Harte made an initial save but the rebound was pushed home by Dawn Mitchell.

Els Mansell struck from another corner after 24 minutes and Zoe Leach was given room to fire past Slough keeper Kate Filochowski on the hour.

For the second week running Slough skipper Natalie Bell failed to last the 70 minutes, coming off with a dead leg, while Jo Bryant suffered a broken toe which is likely to sideline her for up to six weeks.

SLOUGH: Tranquille-Day, McGonigle, Harte, Bell, Bowe, Scott, Cunningham, Ball, Bevan, Penny, White, Bryant, Ilkei, Filochowski.

The Investec League takes a break this weekend. Slough’s next game is at home to Birmingham University on 5th November.