In their first South League game of 2007, Ashford faced the team clearly top of league Oxford University Ladies 1st XI. The Red & blacks were very pleased to welcome back midfield terrier ANNIE NEYTON and to give young starlet ANNA PROTHEROE her first team debut. Unfortunately a kitchen accident meant that regular midfielder NICKY BENEDICT (nee DALY) was a late withdrawal from the team. After an initial downpour, the sun came out and that seemed to set the mood for the game, which was competitive, but played in a good spirit throughout.
Despite a thorough warm up, Ashford were caught flat footed in defence and Oxford opened the scoring within the first minute when Sumpar struck the ball home from close in. However, far from being deflated the concede goal spurred Ashford on and they played some fluid hockey with JACKIE PARSONS in her new slightly more forward sweepers role, and LAURA SAMOUEL in free running yet deep lying striker role, both excelling. The whole team were working hard though and combining well, playing strong constructive hockey to dominate the first quarter of the game. After sixteen minutes of play the Red & Blacks gained a short corner and although JACKIE PARSONS and KATIE GREENE combined well, KATIE’S shot was saved. Oxford hit back and went close on a couple of occasions, and Ashford keeper LIV SUTTON also made some fine saves to make sure the score remained at 1-0. In the second part of the half Ashford continued to play their best hockey of the season, with STACEY KENWARD, CLAIR BRANT, KATIE GREENE, ANNIE NEYTON and JO SMITH working hard in the midfield as was SUNNY POTTAY up front, whilst ANNA PROTHEROE was staring on her debut, and EMMA HYNES and DANI BROUGH were leading by example with some timely tackles and strong distribution play.
After the change round Ashford were slightly slower to find their rhythm and Oxford’s forward Barnes scored a neat flicked goal from a penalty corner after seven minutes of play to put them 2-0 up. Barnes got a second goal from open play shortly after to put the visitors 3-0 up. However, Ashford battled hard and got some good moves going and despite a head injury to player of the match DANI BROUGH, and then a leg injury to ANNA PROTHEROE late in the game, their team work never faltered. The play continued to flow well as both teams continued to press hard, but the final score remained at 3-0 to Oxford. Although Ashford lost, it was an encouraging result against the league leaders and Coach BOB THORNALLEY was extremely pleased not only with their new formation, but with every player’s performance and their new found confidence and high level work ethic. The Red & Blacks will have to do it all again next week though as they travel to play the return fixture against Oxford at their historic Iffley Road ground. Hopefully Ashford will maintain their new found form and give the visitors another hard game.
Team:
L Sutton (GK), D Brough, L Protheroe, K Greene, S Kenward, E Hynes, J Parsons, C Brant, J Smith, (Captain) S Pottay, A Neyton, L Samouel.
