Ladies League Hockey 24/10/09
Middlesex Premier
ASHFORD 1st XI 5 v EASTCOTE 3rd XI 1
The Ladies 1st XI were without three of their regular squad, LOU DOUGLAS, LUCY UTTLEY, SHARON McGLINLEY due to unavailability and also midfielder NICKY BENEDICT due to injury, for their fourth League game of the season at home to Eastcote 3rd XI on Saturday. Coach MANDY WAIN therefore called second team striker MARIA CAVILLA, along with veteran midfielder SARAH SYMES and Second Team Coach LAURA QUINN into action, all for their first Premier games of the season. The rearranged Ashford squad struggled at first to get into the game and Eastcote outpaced and out thought them in the opening exchanges of the game, belying their lowly League position. However, a lovely darting run from a very lively ANNIE NEYTON created the first opening for Ashford and brought out a good save from the Eastcote goalkeeper. At the other end of the pitch EMMA HYNES did well to recover when put under heavy pressure by the Eastcote forwards, to clear the ball up field. Shortly after Ashford opened the scoring when the ebullient ANNIE NEYTON drove into the opposition’s 25 and slipped the ball right to JACQUI BASHFORD who slipped the ball back and ANNIE nipped in front of the waiting LAURA QUINN to put the ball in the net and the Red & Blacks 1-0 up. Not unexpectedly the goal boosted Ashford’s confidence and they started to combine well and utilise the flanks well, especially down the right. A second goal for Ashford followed shortly after set up by youngster KELLY TAYLOR on the right, and once again ANNIE NEYTON nipped in to put the ball home ahead of the loitering LAURA QUINN. Despite being 2-0 up the Red & Blacks weren’t totally firing on all cylinders, and goalkeeper SAM GRANT made a good save when she was called into action. Another Ashford attack followed shortly after and a third goal looked a certainty as both MARIA CAVILLA and SARAH SYMES fired in shots and followed up on the rebounds, as the ball rattled back and for between them and the Eastcote keeper, but somehow the goalkeeper eventually got the ball clear to thwart the Red & Blacks. Five minutes before half time Ashford did get their a third goal though, when yet another good run by KELLY TAYLOR on the right set up JACQUI BASHFORD, who calmly placed the ball in the back of the net with a gentle shot to make the score 3-0 to Ashford.

Eastcote applied further pressure at the start of the second half, but goals from MARIA CAVILLA and SARAH SYMES helped to secure the victory for Ashford. MARIA’S goal was from open play, whilst SARAH’S was from a well worked short corner, which ANNA PROTHEROE injected, SARAH slipped right to KELLY TAYLOR who slipped it back to SARAH who hit it home from the penalty spot. In between the Red & Blacks had other chances and played well as a team, but failed to convert their moves into further goals. Eastcote notched their only goal of the game between the Ashford goals, following a mix up in the Ashford defence. There are no League fixtures for Ashford Ladies first; second and third teams next weekend due to the school holiday, but the fourth team has a rearranged League game away to PHC Chiswick 5th XI. The next 1st XI game is on 7/11/09 when they have to travel to Mill Hill to play their 1st XI, who have as yet, not won a League game.

Team: S. Grant (GK), E. Hynes, S. Smart, J. Bashford, P. Worsfold (Skipper), L.Quinn, A. Protheroe, E. Sibia, K.Taylor, S. Symes, M. Cavilla, A. Neyton