Slough see title hopes slide away

The hopes of a domestic title evaporated for Slough, last year's triple champions, on Saturday as they were beaten 4-2 by the Premier League leaders, Hightown. Now even the play-offs are beyond them.

The hopes of a domestic title evaporated for Slough, last year's triple champions, on Saturday as they were beaten 4-2 by the Premier League leaders, Hightown. Now even the play-offs are beyond them.

Without their Great Britain players yesterday they went down 1-0 to Sutton Coldfield in the quarter-finals of the EHA Cup, just to compound their misery. With Karen Brown coming out of retirement to marshal their defence, Slough hung on until four minutes from time when Sutton's captain Lisa Lee scored to give her side a semi-final place.

Clifton took their semi final place with a 5-0 win against Doncaster as Imogen Robertson scored a hat-trick.

Chelmsford Highway beat Hampton in Arden 5-1, the evergreen Lynn Bollington scoring twice, while Loughborough Students overcame Wimbledon 4-2.

Canterbury, with goals from David Hacker and Danny Laslett, won 2-1 away to Bournville Birmingham University to reclaim the Premiership leadership from an out-of-form Reading who lost 6-3 to an enterprising Cannock.

A last-minute goal from Guy Fordham salvaged a point for Guildford in a 3-3 draw with Teddington. The Surrey club are edging towards the fourth play-off place behind Canterbury, Reading and Cannock.