Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

Ashford had to make the long trip to Enfield on Saturday to play the team who were two places below them in the League Winchmore Hill & Enfield 1^st XI.

Due to a large number of players being unavailable to play throughout the Club, coach MANDY WAIN had only a squad of twelve regular players to work with.

Despite the long journey and very cold, raw conditions, the Red & Blacks started the game strongly and mounted numerous attacks on the home team’s goal in the opening ten minutes of play.In fact, Ashford secured two short corners within the first seven minutes, and although they didn’t get a shot in from the first, a good exchange between JACKIE PARSONS and LIV YOUNG on the second, saw LIV hit the post with her angled shot.

The short corners were supplemented with a trade mark thundering shot from stalwart PARSONS, which was well saved by the north Londoner’s goalkeeper. As the game progressed Ashford continued to move forward and the almost solitary attack by the home side, after fifteen minutes of play, was well cleared by Ashford keeper SAM GRANT. Further attacks including a good run and cross on the right from JACQUI BASHFORD, and a sweeping shot from youngster ANNA PROTHEROE, saw the Red & Blacks again coming close to opening the scoring. The introduction of the skilful Ashford midfielder KATIE GREENE gave the Red & Blacks further attacking options, and after one particular mazy dribble into the circle, KATIE’S reverse sweep shot was again saved. This was followed by Ashford hitting the post once again when a JACKIE PARSON’S strike hit the far post and went out of play.

When it seemed that it would only be a matter of time before Ashford scored, they suffered a killer blow when the home side gained their first short corner of the game. The first strike was saved, but Ashford somehow failed to clear their lines and the home side followed up on the second rebound to open the scoring. A now somewhat subdued Ashford did fight back and once again they went close to scoring when the forwards just failed to connect with a good sweeping cross into the circle, from the left, by midfielder PHIL WORSFOLD. Just before half time Ashford suffered once again, when the home side broke away and scored a simple goal to take a somewhat undeserved 2-0 lead.

After the interval Ashford continued to mount some attacks and KATIE GREENE went inches wide with one of her strikes and the ever running LIV YOUNG just failed to get the ball in the net after a good team move. Unfortunately the usual solid Red & Blacks was breached once again midway through the second half when Winchmore scored a third goal. Ashford rallied though and did eventually score a good goal when ANNA PROTHEROE interjected out a good short corner, which the ever reliable short corner striker JACKIE PARSONS, hit neatly inside the near post to make the score 3-1. Further attacks from host side followed, with one being cleared off the Ashford goal line. Despite their efforts though, Ashford had to accept their 3-1 defeat and now have a tough relegation fight and a home game next week against fourth in the League side Eastcote 2^nd XI.

Team;
S. Grant (GK), S. Smart, E. Hynes, P Worsfold, A. Protheroe, J. Parsons, S McGlinley, K Greene, L. Samouel (Skipper), O. Young, J Bashford, T Holland