Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

Player of the Match:
Sam Grant

Last Saturday, Ashford not only had to contend with the fact that they were playing top of the table team Teddington Ladies 2_nd XI, but they had to do it without two of their star and most consistent players, namely sweeper JACKIE PARSONS and midfield dynamo KATIE GREEN. Ashford Coach MANDY WAIN thus had to rearrange the defence and she decided to move full back SOPHIE SMART over to play sweeper and midfielder PHIL WORSFOLD back to play at left back. The good news was that the Red & blacks were able to welcome back both regular striker LIV YOUNG and versatile defender ALI DONELAN, and that the game was being played at Ashford, albeit at the slightly later start time of 3pm. Not surprisingly, it was the young Teddington squad, who haven’t lost any of the sixteen Middlesex league games they had played so far this season, who started the game full of confidence. In fact they caught Ashford rather flat footed from the first push back and scored their opening goal within under three minutes of play to take the lead 1-0. The impressive start was followed up with some good hockey from the fit and very determined Teddington youngsters, but the Red & Blacks managed to stabilise things in defence. In particular, goalkeeper SAM GRANT was in fine form, and she helped to prevent any further goals from being scored until shortly before half time, when the visitors managed to secure their second goal from close in.

In the second half, Ashford managed some solid attacks and were very unlucky not to be awarded a penalty flick when striker SHARON McGINLEY was rather unceremoniously upended in the visitors goalmouth. The whole Ashford team kept working well together though and despite being under pressure, they kept their spirits up. Unfortunately the multiple skills, continual running and streetwise tactics of the young visitors squad, who have improved since they played Ashford earlier in the season, began to take it toll and they scored another two goals to take an unassailable 4-0 lead by the middle of the second half. Once again the Red & Blacks picked themselves up though and much hard work was got through by midfielders TRACEY HOLLAND, STACEY KENWARD, LAURA SAMOUEL, JAQUI BASHFORD and ANNA PROTOROE. In addition, up front LIV YOUNG and SHARON McGINLEY kept running and trying to find means of penetrating the visitor’s defence, which resulted in the Red & Blacks securing three short corners in fairly quick succession near the end oo the game. As much as they tried though, Ashford couldn’t get any real threatening shots on goal and as legs tired, they conceded two more late goals, to make the final score 6-0 to Teddington.

Next week Ashford are at home again, playing at the more normal start time of 12noon, against Hampstead & Westminster 2_nd XI who are currently second in the Division and have only lost three league games all season. However, the Red & Blacks still have everything to play for and despite the heavy defeat, they played some good hockey and kept their team work and confidence levels up through out the game and they will be aiming to gain some more league points against the north London side.

Team:
S. Grant (GK), S. Smart, E. Hynes, K. Fry, A. Protheroe, P Worsfold, S McGinley, A Donelan, L. Samouel (Skipper), J Bashford, O. Young, T Holland, S Kenward.