Slough Ladies fail to retain national indoor title

In their opening game of the national indoor championships with Aldridge on Saturday, Lauren Penny got Slough Ladies off the mark after a build-up from Natalie Bell and Ashleigh Ball.

But their opponents went ahead within five minutes through corner goals by Kerry Taylor, the second a cheeky lob over keeper Sarah Ellis.

Just before half-time Jane Smith levelled with a corner strike and added two more within six minutes of the restart – the first after a solo run, followed by a trademark corner strike.

Linda Webb reduced the deficit midway through the second but Slough eased to victory.

Fiona Greenham struck at a corner before Steffi Cordier set up Smith’s fourth and a pass from Penny to the far post gave her a fifth.

Against Clifton, Slough were three up by the seventh minute. Smith and Scott exchanged passes for the latter’s opener and Smith sank their first corner and then touched home after Cordier and Greenham combined to create the chance.

Greenham made a goalline save to maintain the lead at the interval.

Slough’s continued control brought two more goals. Smith extracted herself from a tight situation to set up Bell, unmarked in front of goal, and then had herself a reverse-stick tap-in, created by Bell and Cordier.

Juliet Rayden scored a consolation goal for Clifton with four minutes left.

Sunday’s opening match with Ipswich saw Slough produce a vintage first half performance.

Scott turned in a Ball free hit and Smith drilled home two corners before Vic Sandall reduced the lead.
Ball made amends for missing an earlier ‘sitter’ with a fine solo goal and launched the move which gave Scott her second.

Smith completed her hat-trick in the last minute of the half, rolling the ball over the line after a build-up involving Cordier and Mandy Nicholson.

Ipswich struck back with goals from Lizzy Aldous and Sandall but Scott immediately replied to complete her hat-trick.

Jess Bloom made it 7-4, after which the Ipswich coach replaced his keeper with a sixth outfield player but the move failed and Smith slammed home Slough’s sixth corner in the dying seconds.

Needing only a draw against Bowdon to retain their league title, things started badly for Slough.

In the second minute Scott had a penalty stroke saved and Nicholson suffered a hand injury and played no further part.

Bowdon were denied by a post and, in the seventh minute, a long pass was turned in by Nicky O’Donnell.
Within two minutes Slough were level through Cordier and in the 15th minute both teams again traded goals.

Sally Walton got the first but Smith replied by deflecting home a Cordier pass.

As Slough tired, Bowdon became the dominant force, coming close with three efforts and hitting a post.

The winning goal, with four minutes to go, came from a solo run by Fay Nash, who beat keeper Lynnette Smith with a reverse-stick shot.

With 1:40 left, Slough brought on an extra outfield player but the equaliser, which would have given them the title, eluded them.