Ladies League Hockey 30/1/10

Middlesex Premier

ASHFORD 1st XI 1 v PHC CHISWICK 1st XI 5

In their first home League game of 2010, Ashford ladies faced stiff opposition in the form of second in the table side, PHC Chiswick 1st XI. Once again poor availability throughout the Club and a growing injury list meant that the Red & Blacks were reduced to a squad of eleven players only. However, this did not seem to dent the teams and coach MANDY WAIN’S confidence at all as they started the game with great vim and vigour and dominated play in the first quarter. Youngsters LUCY UTTLEY and KELLY TAYLOR were both particularly impressive, with KELLY setting up things down the right flank and the evergreen goal striker MARIA CAVILLA also playing well and picking up the crosses and through balls well and threatening the visitors goal on numerous occasions. Likewise at the back, youngster ELINE SIBIA was playing well and helping to pressurise the PHC Chiswick defence whilst also dealing skill fully with any of the rare Chiswick attacks. Despite their dominance though, Ashford got caught by a Chiswick breakaway, which resulted in a short corner being awarded, from which they opened the scoring. The Red & Blacks soon bounced back, when a sizzling run by LUCY UTTLEY saw her skin a couple of Chiswick defenders before striking for goal and seeing an alert MARIA CAVILLA poach the shot home to notch the Ashford equaliser at 1-1. A high standard of hockey, and umpiring, saw some good hockey being played by both sides for the rest of the first half and Ashford continuing to be in charge of game, even though the score remained at 1-1 until half time.

The second half saw the visitors getting more into their stride and gaining confidence in front of goal. The Red & Blacks remained resolute though, with youngster SARAH APPLETON again playing extremely well and bravely, especially during the onslaught from Chiswick short corners. Likewise the ever reliable Ashford defenders SOPHIE SMART and EMMA HYNES were playing in their usual polished and highly accomplished manner at the back to contain the mounting Chiswick threats, which eventually saw them taking the lead when they scored a second goal to lead 2-1. After fifteen minutes or so of play in second half, Ashford defender ELINE SIBIA suffered an injury and left the field, and with no substitutes available the Red & Blacks were reduced to ten players only. Ashford battled on bravely, but as players tired, the visitors took their chances and scored another three goals to give them what even they said was a rather flattering 5-1 victory. SOPHIE SMART was the Ashford player of the match, but the team as a whole played well and they were unfortunate to lose by such a margin

Next week Ashford travel to Easctcote to face Eastcote 3rd XI, who are yet to gain any league points. If the Red & Blacks play as well as they did in this game, then a victory and three important league points should be well within in their grasp.

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