DUE TO Covid-19, last Saturday brought the curtain down early on Slough Hockey Club's season, but what a memorable and golden day it proved to be at Upton Court Park, writes Dave Wright.
The ladies first team thumped Isca 5-0, the title-winning second team hammered Henley 2s 5-2 and the men's senior side thrashed Richmond 2s 11-3.
All three sides have not found goal-scoring easy this season, but they certainly came good a the weekend where England Hockey announced the rest of the season is suspended.
The Pink and Blacks' victory assures them of a third-place finish in the Investec League's Division One South.
A five-goal margin was surprising as they were missing four senior players, all to Covid-19 issues, and were able to name only 12 players, compared to Isca's 16.
The dozen all took on the extra responsibility by raising their game and were rewarded with their biggest win of the campaign.
Harriet Ward opened the scoring in the 11th minute with Briony Anyon adding the second seven minutes later, both from penalty corners.
PHOTO: The Slough ladies first team coach Kali Takher.
It was a similar set-piece that led to their three second-half goals, with Lyndsey Harwood finding the net in the 47th minute, Rebecca Ross on the hour mark and Jules Inverdale just before the final whistle.
The visitors from Exeter forced six corners in the final two quarters but never really looked capable of beating keeper Asha Tranquille-Day.
Lizzy Totten was voted Slough's player-of-the-match, but there was a special mention for defender Anyon, who was in some discomfort after splitting a finger in her right hand early in the game.
Team manager Bill Griffiths described it as a remarkable performance by his depleted team.
The players were applauded off the pitch by the second team who stayed at the club to celebrate their highly successful season.
Earlier in the day, the Trysports Three Counties League Premier Division One champions had beaten bottom-of-the-table Henley 2s 5-2 to extend their unbeaten record to 19 games, winning 15 of them. They finished 16 points clear of the second club, Banbury.
Their goals came from Alison Lubbock, with two, Avneet Dhandwar, Georgina Wilson and Lesley Hobley.
PHOTO: Harriet Ward (pink and black) opened the scoring for the Slough ladies first team in the 5-0 win against Isca on Saturday.
The club's day to remember was completed when the men's senior side recorded one of their biggest wins for a long time, 11-2 against already-relegated Richmond 2s.
Slough are only two places above them in the Middx, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier Division Two standings, but they were in a different class on Saturday afternoon.
Harsahib Singh led the rout with six goals, while the team's leading scorer Kuli Matharu added four to take his season's goal tally to 18, the third highest in the division, and Arun Brar completed the scoring.
There are still a few fixtures outstanding, but if the league decides to make the current placings final, then Slough are safe from relegation.
No wonder, the curry in the clubhouse tasted even better on Saturday afternoon.
On Monday, it was announced that "in light of the ongoing effects of COVID-19, Slough Hockey Club is closed until further notice - this means no training or matches."
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