IT WAS very much a case of deja vu as Slough lost to Berkshire rivals Reading for the second time in the Investec Women's Hockey League's Division One South, writes Dave Wright.
The Blues won 1-0 with a Jo Ellis goal at Upton Court Park - just as they had at Sonning Lane in September.
On that occasion, the player-coach scored after 63 minutes, but on Saturday she took a little longer with her all-important strike coming in the 69th minute.
It was a major blow for the Pink and Blacks who had played well enough to secure at least a point.
They went into the game knowing that a win would lift them into fourth spot, just one point behind second-placed Reading. Instead, they now slip down to eighth, one of four teams locked together on nine points.
Once again, Slough were forced to field a depleted squad with a number of key players unavailable, but they still gave a good account of themselves against a mainly young Reading side who, like their hosts, do not find scoring goals that easy.
When the visitors threatened early on, captain Kate McGonigle was in the right position to prevent a certain-looking goal, while at the other end Jules Inverdale saw her effort blocked at the expense of a short corner.
However, both sides struggled once inside their opponents circle in the first half which Slough shaded.
In the second half, they came under more pressure, conceding four penalty corners in quick succession before keeper Asha Tranquille-Day was quick to react when pushing a shot over her bar.
As the clock ticked down it was looking as if the game would end goalless, but approaching the final minute Reading won another corner and it led to Ellis netting the winner.
It was cruel on Kali Takher's side as they had performed well enough to earn a point, a similar story to the away game earlier in the season.
This coming Saturday (12.15pm pushback), Slough host their final home fixture of 2019 and it could not come any tougher as the visitors are unbeaten leaders Wimbledon, who will be seeking their eighth straight victory of the season.
Slough 2s extended their winning run to eight games in the Trysports Three Counties League Premier Division One with an emphatic 4-0 home win - their biggest of the season so far - over rivals Maidenhead on Saturday.
Their scorers were Katie Bryden, Yasmin Thomas, Georgie Wilson and Sara Vollmerhausen - two goals coming in each half.
They return to the top of the table, leapfrogging Oxford 2s, who were beaten 3-0 at Banbury.
This coming Saturday, they are away to third-bottom Henley 2s.
Slough men are still searching for their first win of the season after losing 3-2 at Maidenhead, their eighth successive defeat in the Middx, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier Division Two West.
Goals from Zora Thind and Floris Verhaar raised hopes of a point by scoring, but their hosts went one better courtesy of strikes from Robert Kempton, James Luff and Will Strang.
This weekend, Slough host fifth-placed Southgate 2s at Upton Court.
Table-topping Slough 2s return to London League Division Four action this weekend when they travel to play the fifth club, Richmond 2s.
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