Ashford entertained Mill Hill 1st XI at Short Lane on Saturday and although skipper LAURA SAMOUEL was still injured, coach MANDY WAIN was able to field a squad of thirteen players. It was particularly good for Ashford to be able to welcome back former 1st XI regular PHIL WORSFOLD who had unfortunately been out for well over a year with a long term knee problem. The game started in a lively mode and the visitors obtained a short corner after only two minutes of play that Ashford easily coped with. Not long after Ashford got a short corner themselves but they also failed to convert it. The Red & Blacks then followed up with some more attacking moves and secured another short corner which unfortunately striker LIV YOUNG just failed to control well enough to get a good shot in. After fifteen minutes of play Ashford got a third short corner and this time striker SHARON McGLINCHEY struck for goal but it was cleared by the visitors. Further pressure from Ashford following some skilful runs from midfielder KATIE GREENE and the ever improving ANNA PROTHEROE resulted in the ball being struck across the front of the Mill Hill goal with three Red & Blacks players free in the goalmouth. Unfortunately none of them were able to convert the chance and the game remained goal less. Mill Hill then broke away at the other end and the Ashford keeper SAM GRANT came out well to smother the forward’s attack on goal. The Red & blacks retaliated with a shot from KATIE GREENE being well saved. Ashford were by now well in control of a rather low key game, but were getting frustrated with some of the decisions and their own lack of finishing power; which wasn’t helped at the very end of the half when a finely struck free hit by STACEY KENWARD from the right of the visitors goalmouth wasn’t converted. Thus at the end of a half which saw Ashford on top, the score remained goal less.
After the change round the visitors played more constructively from the off, and after only four minutes of play they capitalised on some poor defending by Ashford and scored the first goal of the game. The goal encouraged the visitors to continue with their good team work and they scored another after a further four minutes of open play. Ashford eventually started to wake up from their half time slumbers after coach MANDY WAIN moved veteran sweeper JACKIE PARSONS up from the back to add her skills, striking power and finesse to back up the forward line. The move worked and JACKIE created problems for the visitors. Her presence also enabled KATIE GREENE to be more creative and a good move from KATIE on the left saw her put striker SHARON McGLINCHEY through with only the goalkeeper to beat. SHARON duly slotted the ball home to put Ashford back in the game. The visitors weren’t thwarted though and continued to threaten the Red & Blacks defence, but keeper SAM GRANT kept them well at bay. Despite more forays and moving more players playing up front and JACKIE PARSONS brushing the left hand post from a fine strike from a short corner shortly before the end of the game, the score remained at a very disappointing 2-1 to the visitors at full time. The Middlesex league programme for the Premier League has now finished for the Xmas break and resumes again on 11/1/08 in what will be a tough second half of the season for the Ashford.
Team:
S. Grant (GK), S. Smart, K. Fry, P Worsfold, A. Protheroe, K. Greene, J. Parsons, S McGlinley, S. Kenward, O. Young, J Basford, A. Donelan, T. Holland
