Slough were crowned Slazenger Women’s Premiership champions this afternoon with three fixtures left to play. They met Canterbury and it was two evergreen members of the Slough side, Purdy Miller and Jane Smith (PS), who earned the points that clinched the championship in their 2-0 win at home. Slough’s nearest challengers this season have been free-scoring Bowdon Hightown, who had seemingly gone off the boil in recent matches. Too late to challenge for the top spot, Bowdon returned to form with a 5-1 win over a depleted Leicester. Bowdon’s scorers were Lis Chaffey, Tina Cullen, Ashleigh Ball, and Fay Nash (2), with the reply coming from Alexis Williamson. Lowly Poynton, currently sitting in the play-off slot, recently seem to enjoy taking the scalps of teams in the top half of the table and their victims today were third placed Olton and West Warwickshire. Cath Linaker scored the first of a hat-trick after six minutes, with two goals coming from Katie Maltman, and one apiece from Phillippa Jones and Helen Armishaw in their 7-1 win. Clifton’s return to the Premiership has been further consolidated by a useful 4-2 win over Chelmsford . At the bottom end of the table, Old Loughtonians look doomed. With a potential nine points still available they are six points adrift of on-form Poynton. They did not do themselves any favours by losing 1-1 to Ipswich this afternoon. The current Premiership table is as follows: 1. Slough 42 pts, 2. Bowdon Hightown 32 pts, 3. Olton & West Warwicks 27 pts, 4. Leicester 24 pts, 5. Clifton 23 pts, 6. Canterbury 21 pts, 7. Ipswich 15 pts, 8. Chelmsford 13 pts, 9. Poynton 11 pts, 10. Old Loughtonians 5 pts.
There were two meetings of team at the top of Women’s Division One today. Top side Trojans were only able to record a 1-1 draw when they visited Reading. The scorers there were Jenna Woolven for Reading and Amy Sheehan for Trojans. Sunderland closed the gap between themselves and Trojans with a useful 3-2 win at Sutton Coldfield. The top of the table now looks like this: 1. Trojans 34 pts (+21), 2. Sunderland 32 pts (+17), 3. Reading 27 pts (+17), 4. Birmingham University 24 pts (+6), 5. Sutton Coldfield 24 pts (+2).
The three leading teams in Women’s National North each recorded victories today. Leaders Cannock beat Bradford 2-0, whilst second placed Belper overcame Rover Oxford 3-2. Whitley Bay in third place beat bottom placed Bedford 3-1. In National South leaders Staines faced bottom placed Woking and drew 2-2.
