In their second South League game of 2007, Ashford faced a trip up to Oxfordshire to play the return game against the team clearly top of league, Oxford University Ladies 1st XI, at their famous Iffley Road ground. The Red & Blacks were very pleased to welcome back regular goalkeeper LEANNE SERGEANT, but midfielders ANNIE NEYTON and NICKY BENEDICT were again missing and were replaced by youngster LIV YOUNG and the speedy HELEN SIWEK; whilst youngster and recent debutant ANNA PROTHOROE, continued in the defence. Oxford were able to field a few stronger squad of players than they did last week and after a recent defeat (their first of the season), they were determined to do well form the start.
As happened last week, Ashford conceded a goal with in a minute of the start of the game and were 1-0 down to a well taken goal before most Ashford players had touched the ball. Ashford gradually settled though and keeper LEANNE SERGEANT and defenders JACKIE PARSONS and DANI BROUGH contained the next few Oxford attacks well. Ashford then started to combine well and found some of the rhythm they had displayed last week. However, they weren’t able to mount many attacks and after some good short corner moves Oxford notched another couple of goals to equal last week’s tally of three. Another goal was then scored by the students before the end of the first half to virtually seal the game, with the score being 4-0 to the home side.
In the second half the Red & Blacks midfield kept working hard with KATIE GREEN, STACEY KENWARD, skipper JO SMITH and CLAIRE BRANT battling way, but they were unable to bring the hard running Red & Black strikers LIV YOUNG, LAURA SAMUOEL and HELEN SIWEK into the game very much. Another well executed short corner routine led to another goal to put them 5-0 up after ten minutes or so in the second half. Numerous good diving saves by Ashford keeper LENNE SERGEANT and stout defending then kept the score down for most of the second half. Tiredness due to the constant pressure eventually took its toll though and in the final five minutes of the game and the league leaders knocked in another three to make it a very convincing 8-0 victory for them.
The Red & Blacks are at home next Saturday at noon, when they play West Hampstead 1st XI, who are two places above them in the league and against whom they will be hoping their better form will result in some goals and maybe even points.
Team:
L Sergeant (GK), D Brough, A Protheroe, K Greene, S Kenward, E. Hynes, J Parsons, C Brant, J Smith, (Captain), O Young, H Siwek, L Samouel.
