Ashford Scorers:
Dan Williams (2)
Having watched a good portion of their 2’s game, South Bucks really need to get their selection sorted out as their 3’s are comfortably better than their 2’s! We knew before the game that we needed to block off supply of the ball to their cack-hander upfront and I guess essentially we failed as he set up one goal and made most of their shorts and they won the game. Quite disappointing as we played the better hockey for most of the game - we played the ball around well and our forwards were able to worry their defence particularly in the first half. We started probably the best we have all season and play was fairly even with us being a little more incisive. Midway through the half, a free hit or sideline hit found its way to the Smell just outside the D, he fed Rosie (he also had time to pass the ball as well) and Rosie did well to get round the keeper and set up Fat Dan. We deserved a first half lead but unfortunately conceded a soft short corner just before the break.
We continued our good work in the second but got suckered by a breakaway - we gave the ball away in their 25, it was cracked to the cack-hander who ran round our defence and his cross was slammed home by their winger. Play was getting quite physical and the rest of the game was a bit feisty as Bubbles and Mark Burrows came into their own, one up and over by Burrows on their midfield hacker particularly satisfying. Dan belted in an equaliser from a short corner to even things up but the last quarter saw us get a bit tired and South Bucks finally looked the better side and 2 short corners finished us off.
Not a bad performance by any means and they said we are the best team they’ve played but we need to bounce back next week against the might of Gerrards Cross.
