The Shots gave debuts to Crystal Kagbo in attack and Caroline Shepherd in Midfield. The shots started at a high tempo and kept Slough pegged back in there own half, a number of inter-changes in the midfield from North and C Shepherd put in Hann and Kagbo only to see their shots go wide. They kept pressing and North again came close when the goalkeeper saved from 18 yards.
Slough slowly started to come back into the game, but had to revert to the long ball, which Cole and Grover had no problem dealing with. The ball started to get bogged down in the midfield; neither team could seem to make any headway.
On 38 minutes the game went Sloughs way, with a long ball down the left, which evaded the Shots defence, the slough striker was one on one with the shots keeper, Calder made a point-blank save and the threat was cleared by Grover. On 42 minutes, Smith and a Slough attacker both went for the ball on the far touchline, with the ball ricocheting into the path of the unsuspecting Aldershot linesman - sending him to the floor. It provided a moment of all-round humour.
With the ball always being hit long, the Shots midfield started to lose the grip on the game. On 45 minutes the referee gave a decision against Shepherd for holding. The Concentration dropped for the first time and allowed one off the Slough players to fire home at the back post 1-0.
After half-time the Shots took control. Pushing on the Shots started to put the Slough goal under constant pressure, North and Hann again coming close, Nikki McDonald making her debut took over from Danni Shepherd on the left-hand side of midfield. She made an instant impact by linking well with Hann to carve out a number of half-cut chances.
Wallman replaced Kagbo and gave the Slough defence some problems with some great hold up play. With Shots pushing so hard, Slough broke away on a number off occasions, but Grover and Calder dealt with the threat well
As the Shots pressed for the equalizer, a number of shots went close and eventually the ladies ran out of time.
Well done to Caroline Shepherd who was voted Player of the Match for the Shots.
Squad
Calder, Grover, Kagbo (Wallman 75"), Smith, Coles, Giberson, North, Ireland, Hann (Meredith 90"+6,) C Shepherd, D Shepherd (McDonald 58")
Managers' views
Slough are one of the favourites to be promoted this season, but I thought we out-played them in every department - it was one lack of concentration that cost us. I thought the girls were outstanding considering the hampered pre-season we had, and it was nice not to pick up fresh injuries. I hope that we can put things right for the Abbey Rangers game.
The Shots next game is away to Abbey Rangers (Chertsey) in the FA Cup on 16th Sept 1400hrs kick off.