Ladies League Hockey 7/11/09

Middlesex Premier

MILL HILL 1st XI 2 v ASHFORD 1st XI 2

Ashford Ladies first team were still without stalwart midfielder NICKY BENEDICT due to injury for their trip to north London to play Mill Hill 1st XI on Saturday, but otherwise they had they their normal squad of twelve players. The one week break from hockey and the early morning 10.30 am start away from home did not seem to suit the Red & Blacks. They played sluggish hockey from the start, with the home team Mill Hill first team playing a lot better than their bottom of the League position suggested. Despite being under pressure and struggling to find their usual pace and team work, it was Ashford who opened the scoring, when the ever reliable midfielder ANNIE NEYTON put the ball home with a hard straight strike from a short corner injected by ANNA PROTHEROE. The home team continued to dominate the game though and equalised from a penalty flick shortly afterwards. Despite their lack of cohesion Ashford managed to take the lead again before half time via their own penalty flick. It was converted by Skipper PHIL WORSFOLD, who took the responsibility of taking it on her own shoulders, when no one else in the team stepped forward to take it. Although Skipper PHIL had to confirm the rules for taking a stroke with the umpires, she calmly stepped up and stroked the ball low and to right of the Mill Hill goalkeeper to score a rare goal for her and her first penalty flick for Ashford Ladies. Thus despite their continued poor play and the superior play of the home team, the Red & Blacks went into the half time interval 2-1 ahead.

The second half very much followed the pattern of the first as Ashford struggled to lose their lethargic mood, and Mill Hill played the better hockey. It was only the astute goalkeeping of the Ashford keeper SAM GRANT that kept the score line at 2-1 for the third quarter of the game. Mill Hill eventually got their just reward though by notching an equaliser despite SAM GRANT’S sterling efforts. It was a day to forget for Ashford, but at least they secured a point against a team which are obviously beginning to find some good form

Next Saturday the Ladies first team are at home to second in the League team Eastcote 2nd XI, at Short Lane at noon. It will be a tough game, but coach MANDY WAIN will be working hard with the squad in training this week and on Saturday prior to the game, to ensure they are fully prepared for their sixth League game of the season and that if possible the Red & Blacks get back to the something like the form and the performances and fluent team work they displayed in their first four games..

Team: S. Grant (GK), E. Hynes, S. Smart, J. Bashford, P. Worsfold (Skipper), A. Protheroe, E. Sibia, K.Taylor, S. McGlinley, A. Neyton, L Uttley, L Douglas