Eastcote 2′s 1 v Ashford Ladies 1′s 2
18.2.2012, Middlesex Premier League.

Ashford returned to hockey with a couple of weeks off due to snow/frozen pitches with a tough league game against Eastcote who were lying just above them in the table.

Although Ashford were missing three regular players from the 1s squad, retired GK Alison Boxell and 2s players Wendy Baker and Kath Evans all stepped in to complete the team. Wendy Baker joined the defence as Sweeper alongside Tracey Holland, Kim Fry and Elize Brown. Eastcote used to the bouncy pitch quickly moved into attacking formation and Ashford’s defence were tested within 5 mins from the start. GK Alison Boxell made the initial save only for the ball to fall to an Eastcote attacker, Kim Fry and Wendy Baker immediately forced the attacker to lose possession of the ball but unfortunately it fell only for it to fall loose and be slammed into the back of the net.

Ashford soon settled down and got into their stride with some great runs down the left hand side from Claire Emmerton feeding Maria Cavilla, Lucy Uttley and Kim Downs the chance for a couple of shots on goal which were kept at bay the Eastcote Keeper. Ashford’s first short corner saw Jacqui Bashford inject the ball for a straight strike from Cavilla, the rebound from the keeper fell to Emma Hynes who smashed the ball far left corner for Bashford to make sure it went over the goal line.

Eastcote fought back and were rewarded with a short corner just before half time. Numerous fouls by Ashford led to the corner being taken three times and the last time saw Keeper Boxell beaten by a strike to the right hand corner only for Holland to deflect the ball away to safety.

So with the second half starting off 1-1, Ashford piled on the pressure and started switching the ball down the right with Kath Evans feeding Rasna Sandhu to drive down the line and put some fantastic crosses in. Ashford defenders man marked superbly frustrating the Eastcote forwards, allowing Ashford’s midfielders Emmerton, Hynes, Bashford and Evans to intercept and lay off to Ashford’ forwards; Downs, Cavilla and Uttley to put the Eastcote Keeper under great pressure.

Ashford’s second goal came from a free hit taken quickly by Bashford who slipped the ball through to the speedy Lucy Uttley who sprinted down the left, beat two defenders and took a shot from a very narrow angle which clipped the inside of the right post and into the goal.

A great win moves Ashford up to 5th place, and with 6 more games to go, Ashford hope to pick up at least 9 points out of a possible 18 to hopefully keep them midtable.

Team: Alison Boxell, Wendy Baker, Kim Fry, Tracey Holland, Elize Brown, Cath Evans, Claire Emmerton, Emma Hynes, Jacqui Bashford, Rasna Sandhu, Lucy Uttley, Kim Downs, Maria Cavilla.