SLOUGH have shocked the more fancied hockey teams to win the Indoor League and are now aiming to go on and lift the Super Sixes title at Wembley Arena on Sunday, January 29.

“Obviously we’re delighted to be going to Wembley as it’s always a great occasion,” said captain Kate McGonigle.

The Pink and Blacks had put themselves in a good position by winning two and drawing two of the four games they played before Christmas, but they still had plenty to do when they returned to Telford last weekend. Most of the nine teams were still in with a realistic chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.

In their opening match, Slough defeated the University of Birmingham 6-4 with Harriet Ward (two), Mel Ball, McGonigle, Dilly Newton and Laura Bailey all finding the net.

They then suffered their first defeat at the hands of the other unbeaten side, Bowdon Hightown, losing 4-2. Their goals came from Bailey and Ball in the first-half which ended 2-2.

Coach Kali Takher’s side went into Sunday’s two games knowing they could finish anywhere in the top four or even be eliminated.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Slough goal machine Dilly Newton (black) found the net eight times as her side won the Indoor League title.

They rose to the occasion by hammering Holcombe 5-2 with Ashpal Bhogal bagging a hat-trick of penalties corners, while Charly Brydon and Newton added the others.

With other results in their favour, Slough knew that a win over relegated Buckingham would see them finish top of the table.

Laura Bailey put them ahead in the opening minute and she soon followed up with another.

Buckingham pulled one back before two penalty-corner goals in quick succession from Newton and Ward made it 4-1 at the end of the opening 20 minutes.

Five minutes into the second half Brydon grabbed her side’s fifth. Buckingham scored their second, but Ward and Bhogal netted the goals that put Slough in seventh heaven.

McGonigle admitted: “ There was quite a lot of pressure on us going into this game, but knowing if we won we would finish top was a big incentive.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Slough ace Laura Bailey bagged five goals as the club reached the finals at Wembley Arena on January 29.

“It all finished nicely for us in the end, which was great and we can now look forward to Wembley.”

Their semi-final opponents will be Sutton Coldfield, the team that finished fourth.

“We beat them 9-3 before Christmas, which was our biggest win of the competition and their biggest loss, but they won all their other three games that weekend,” added McGonigle.

“We played really well and so are pleased to be playing them again.”

The other semi-final is between Bowdon and Canterbury.

And McGonigle believes that Bowdon, who had sealed their Super Sixes place with two matches to spare, will go to the SSE Arena as favourites.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Harriet Ward (black) scored five goals as Slough won the Indoor League in Telford.

“When we played them it was not our best game, or probably not their best game either,” the Slough captain commented.

“They had secured their spot at Wembley by the end of Saturday, so that is why they may have slipped up on Sunday.

“I would think they will start favourites, but we are a very strong side and it should be a very good game if we do both make it to the final.”

While it was an impressive performance from the whole team, individual scoring honours went to Newton with nine goals and Bhogal with eight.

Both scored seven goals from penalty corners, while there were six apiece for Bailey and Ward, each having five goals from open play.

McGonigle commented: “As Alex Scott isn’t playing this year after having a baby, Ashpal has become one of our corner strikers, so it was good to have her in the side and seeing her score some goals.”

Slough will have plenty of support at Wembley with more than 100 fans having requested tickets by Monday morning. It is planned that all the fans will be seated in the same block.