Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

Goal scorers:
Laura Samouel

As an opener for 2008, Ashford Ladies1st XI, faced a young Guildford 2^nd XI in a friendly game at Ashford on Saturday.

Ashford had several regular players, namely EMMA HYNES, KATIE GREENE and ALISON DONELAN, missing and youngster KIM DOWNS was drafted into the squad late on Friday night to make her first eleven debut.

Not surprisingly both sides were a little rusty and the game started somewhat slowly, with Guildford being the more dominant side.

In fact they took the lead after only six minutes of play when they scored following up from a short corner which did not appear to be fully controlled.

The goal appeared to wake the Red & Blacks up a little and they created a good attack down the right through JACQUI BASHFORD, which was later followed by a good effort by SHARON McGLINEY that went just wide.

Almost mid way through the first half the visitors scored their second goal from a free hit just outside the circle that was soundly hit home to make the score 2-0.

Undaunted by the second goal, Ashford prompted well by midfielder ANNA PROTHEROE and defenders JACKIE PARSONS and SOPHIE SMART, got back into the game well.

Eventually their hard work paid off when slick team work left skipper LARA SAMOUEL with an easy strike to score the first Ashford Ladies goal in 2008 and to make the score 2-1 to the visitors.

The play in the second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with the visitors combining well and working as a team.

However, Ashford goalkeeper SAM GRANT made several good saves to keep the visitors at bay.

In addition, JACKIE PARSONS stopped a well struck strike from a short corner on the goal line, and cleared the ball up the field.

Ashford tried hard to score an equaliser, but they were unable to penetrate the solid Guildford defence, so the score remained at 2-1 to Guilford.

As the game drew to a close, Ashford midfield STACEY KENWARD went over on her right ankle and had to be carried off for treatment and both Captains and the umpires decided to finish the game a few minutes early.

Thus Ashford started the New Year with a narrow defeat.

The Middlesex league programme for the Premier League starts again next weekend and Ashford 1^st XI have a home game against Hampstead & Westminster 3^rd XI at Short Lane at 12 noon.

Team:
S. Grant (GK), S. Smart, K. Fry, P Worsfold, A. Protheroe, O. Young, J. Parsons, S McGlinley, S. Kenward, L. Samouel (Skipper), O. Young, J Basford