Bowdon Hightown's chances of playing in their top tier of European indoor club hockey next year took a boost this morning when Slough took three points from their final pool match here in Madrid. Their opponents were Russian side Vympel , who despite being in bottom place in Pool A, showed yesterday that they would be no pushover when they played Club an der Alster. First half goals from Jane Smith and Fiona Greenham (2) were enough to give Slough the win and, although Vympel had their moments, the match was mostly Slough's.
The three points against Vympel get carried over into the so-called relegation league, the first matches of which are due to be played this afternoon. Those points boost Slough's chances of a fifth or sixth place in the competition. Anything less than a sixth place means that the English representatives will play in the Trophy competition next year.
Slough do not yet know who they will be facing this afternoon but it seems likely that it will be Austrian side Wels.
