Slough Ladies, having secured the Investec Womens Conference East crown, were up against Bowden Hightown Ladies. Both teams were the heavyweights of the Ladies game not so many year ago having both played for several decades at the top level. Slough having dropped out of the Premier league are on a mission to regain their place at the top level whilst Hightown have been in the premier league since its inception over 26 years ago and fielded the likes of Sally Walton and Tina Cullen, both seasoned international calibre players. Slough also had some top international experience with Dilly Newton, Harriet Cunnigham and Lousie Bevan amongst their squad.

Slough started brightly but were brought down a notch when Hightown snatched an early goal on 4 mins. Hightown heads were up and the team played well for the next 20 mins with Slough working hard to keep them in check. Slough fought hard and were rewarded before half time when Laura Bailey stole the ball close to Hightown's "D" and drove the ball into the Hightown area. Harriet Cunningham won the ball in the scramble and slotted the ball into the corner putting Slough level at the halfway mark.

In the second half, Hightown had a player green carded and Slough reacted quickly with Harriet Cunnighan dispossessing Hightown at the half way mark and putting an excellent pass through to Lizzie Totten who ran clear pursued by Hightown's defence but who cooly held her ground and pushed the ball past the keeper. Slough were 2-1 ahead with a lot of game time still left. Both teams worked hard with Hightown's 16 year old, Lily Wolstenholme, showing some impressive skills, strength and pace. Hightown threatened and kept the game on a knife edge. Dilly Newton was phenomenal in defence for Slough as she picked off a number of dangerous balls to keep the Hightown attack at bay. Slough had a golden opportunity to go 3-1 up but shot wide. A late short-corner to Hightown added to the nerves of the Slough players and supporters but Slough held out and won a tense game to take a good advantage into the 2nd and 3rd play-off games at Lea Valley on 16th and 17th April. In the other play-off game, Sutton Coldfield beat Wakefield. Slough meet Sutton Coldfield on 16th April and go into that game with confidence high and, with their experience from last years play-offs, have a great opportunity to finish off the job.