As per last season, Ashford 1st XI Ladies had to travel to play West Hampstead for their opening South League fixture of the new season. During the close season the Ashford squad has been much depleted due to a number of reasons ranging from KIRSTY HARDING and KIRSTY ROSSINGTON moving from the area, elected Captain SOPHIE SMITH being pregnant and long term injuries and sickness causing the absence of SAM KENDALL and CAL ANTELL respectively. In addition, SHARON McGLINLEY is still recovering from the birth of her first child and 1st team and Ladies Club coach HELEN ‘BOB’ THORNALLEY is not attempting to combine her coaching and playing roles again this season. However, Ashford was able to welcome back the talented South African and former Ashford Ladies 1st team Captain, JACKIE PARSONS back to the squad.
In hot humid conditions, Ashford played with debutant TRACEY HOLLAND out of position at right back, necessitating youngster LOUISE DOUGLAS having to move across to left back. However, from the start, the Ashford team combined well and applied themselves to the task as West Hampstead piled on the pressure early on. Unfortunately after twenty minutes Ashford let in a very soft short corner goal to go 1-0 down. Undaunted they rallied and had several short corners of their own, but the strike force couldn’t find the final touch and equalising goal.
It was a similar story in the second half and although the Red & Blacks tired in the heat and heavy pressure from the West Hampstead forwards, they stuck to their task manfully and kept the team shape and system well. Again the Ashford strikers couldn’t quite penetrate the home defence, and despite KATIE GREEN being given a rough time by the home defenders, she kept her cool and showed some neat touches. Likewise the defence stood firm to the end and kept the score sheet blank in the second half, thus making the final score a 1-0 victory to West Hampstead. Both the Ashford coach and squad were pleased with the team’s performance, despite the loss and felt very positive about things after the game. Ashford now look forward to the second game of the season next Saturday 7/10/06 against local rivals and newly promoted, Staines 2nd XI at Staines at 3pm.
Team:
L. Sergeant (GK), L. Cunningham, J. Smith (Captain), L. Douglas, H. Hull, D. Brough, N Daly, K. Green, T. Holland, A Neyton, J Parsons, B Griffiths.
