It was the turn of Slough to benefit from a piece of carelessness as they played the first of their relegation pool matches in Madrid this afternoon. Ironically, it was the Wels' goalkeeper Katzenhofr, whose solid play had kept Slough at bay for much of the match, who gifted the English side three desperately needed points, which in some opinions they had done little to deserve. At 2-2, and with only seconds left, Katzenhofr attempted to return the ball into play from the back line but only managed to push itl a few inches. Jane Smith, who had scored Slough's two goals, earned her hat-trick by pouncing on the ball and quickly propelling it into the Austrian's net. Whilst the Austrian's stood transfixed with shock, the final hooter sounded.
With six points in the bag, three carried over from the pool matches, and three from this afternoon's match, Slough are assured of a fifth or sixth place. They play Ritm Grodno tomorrow to decide their final placing.
