Slough Ladies produce the goods at national indoor league

In their opening game of the national indoor league against Olton on Saturday, Jane Smith got Slough Ladies HC off the mark with an early corner strike – as she did in the other games – this time in the second minute, but Denise Marston-Smith equalised five minutes later.

There were no further goals before half time, just before which Fiona Greenham had  to make a goal-line save at Olton’s second set-piece.

Slough totally dominated the second half until Alex Scott gave them the lead at their seventh corner from a short injection by Greenham.

Things looked even better for Slough when the Olton coach was sin-binned but, with three minutes left, a foul by Jo Cox conceded a penalty stroke which Rachel Walker converted.

Less than a minute later Slough’s Ashleigh Ball was yellow-carded for a stick tackle and Slough were caught by a quick free-hit to an unmarked Emma McCabe, who netted the winner.

Slough’s next opponents Chelmsford had been three times national indoor champions this century but were never in the game against a rampant Slough although Chloe Rogers equalised a second-minute corner goal by Smith after eight minutes against the run of play.

Smith buried a second corner two minutes later before Zoe Wimshurst, free on the far post after a determined Mandy Nicholson run and cross from Natalie Bell, added a third.

Scott fired in from close range and Smith notched her hat-trick from a cut-back by Nicholson just before half time.

A crossfield pass by Smith to Steffi Cordier gave the German her first goal for Slough, Smith sank Slough’s sixth corner and Scott converted their next at the second attempt.

Chelmsford won two late corners with the second hitting Bell’s foot on the line but the penalty stroke was easily saved by Slough keeper Sarah Ellis.

There was still time for a ninth score for Slough when Smith’s run and cross found Lauren Penny free in front of goal.

Slough’s first opponents on Sunday were promoted team Liverpool Sefton who had earlier suffered two heavy defeats.

Slough were two up by the third minute, thanks to Smith set piece goals, and Scott finished off a build-up by Cox and Cordier for a third in the 13th minute.

The second half saw continued control by Slough with coach Chandler resting her starting outfield players for long periods.

Scott completed her hat-trick, firing in from an Ashleigh Ball pass and another by Greenham, in a two-minute spell midway through the half. But Scott was denied a fourth when Liverpool’s goalkeeper/coach Carolyn Reid kept out her penalty stroke.

Slough needed a win against Canterbury who, like Slough, had won two games and Smith gave them the ideal start with a fourth-minute corner strike followed by a Greenham set piece goal three minutes later.

Scott spun to fire home a third after11 minutes before Canterbury rallied to win a first corner with Mel Clewlow’s shot being deflected clear, Lynnette Smith then saving from Cathy Gilliat-Smith.

Ball had a lobbed effort helped over the bar by the keeper and Canterbury had a ‘goal’ disallowed for being struck outside the D.

Clewlow drilled home a corner three minutes after the break and Jen Wilson further reduced the deficit five minutes on. But Smith smashed home Slough’s ninth corner to restore their two-goal margin.

Clewlow’s second corner strike with three minutes left set up a nervy finish for Slough but Nicholson was their last-minute heroine, taking another Clewlow set piece off the line.

SLOUGH: L Smith, Ellis, Nicholson, Greenham, Ball, Scott, J Smith, Bell, Cordier, Cox, Penny, Wimshurst.