Huge game for Slough women against University of Birmingham

Both sides are battling for survival in the Premier Division with the Pink 'n' Blacks second from last in the table, one place below Birmingham with just one point separating them.

Both sides have managed just one win from 12 matches, and for Birmingham that came at the expense of Slough last September by a narrow 2-1 margin, while the Upton Court Park women have not gained three points since defeating Holcombe 2-1 at home last October, so it is a massive game for both clubs.

When they met last season, the University won 1-0 at Slough before the return fixture ended in a goalless draw.

A year later, Kali Takher's team are still struggling to find the net, having managed just 10 goals this season, eight fewer than Birmingham.

Only four players have put their name on the scoresheet, with Emma O'Nien netting four times, all from penalty corners, while Mel Ball is on the three-goal mark, followed by Kitty Baccanello on two and Laura Bailey one.

Baccanello struck in the last home game, a 1-1 draw with bottom club Canterbury, when Slough played well in all departments apart from the important one – scoring goals.

The Pink 'n' Blacks are again likely to be without forward Lucy Wood, who is recovering from a knock before Christmas which left her concussed.

This has left Takher short of players, with only 14 being available for the last two games, and they included two keepers.

Slough men are also in relegation trouble in MBBO Premier Two.

A week after shipping seven goals at leaders Guildford, they slumped to a 5-3 home defeat at the hands of Blackheath & Elthamians last Saturday.

Rai Singh scored twice for the second week running to leave him with 14 goals for the season, while Kuli Matharu got the other.

The mid-table visitors' goals came from Joe Allen, Chris Harden, Michael Lawrence, James Morrison and Josh Self.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Slough are away to seventh-placed Tulse Hill & Dulwich, who won 4-1 at Upton Court Park last November.